Gujjars enforce bandh in Gwalior

Expressing solidarity with agitating Gujjars in Rajasthan, members of the community on Monday enforced a bandh in Gwalior and staged demonstrations in several places of Madhya Pradesh demanding dismissal of Vasundhara Raje government.

The Neemuch-Kota highway was blocked at Diken village of Neemuch district by the community members demanding action against policemen involved in the firing at Gurjars staging protests for ST status in the neighbouring state and compensation to those killed in the incident, police said.

Markets remained closed and movement of public vehicles was virtually paralysed in Gwalior since Monday morning following a bandh called by All India Gujjar Vikas Sangathan.

Minor incidents of violence were reported in Daulatganj and Inderganj areas of the city as Gujjars youths drove around on motorcycles and pelted stones forcing shopkeepers to down their shutters, police said, adding no injuries were reported.

Security was beefed up in the city and police were patrolling the streets to prevent any untoward incident.

Violence was reported in Morena district on Sunday night, as Gujjar communtiy members tried to block trains at Noorabad town delaying traffic by nearly two hours, railway sources said.

Janta Express and AP Express trains were also halted at Morena railway station for over an hour in view of the protests, Station Manager R C Meena said.

Some unidentified persons tried to block trains in Ruar-Maina Basai area, but fled as soon as police arrived in strength.