Violence in Haryana over police firing

Bharatiya Kisan Union activists on Thursday indulged in arson and violence in Jind district of Haryana to express sympathy with the farmers of Mandiali in Mahendergarh district, where six people were killed and 12 others injured in police firing last week.

Vehicular traffic was disrupted at a number of places in the state as villagers protested against the firing.

About 2,000 BKU supporters torched three bogies of the Bombay-bound 9024 Ferozepur-Bombay Janata Express near Uchana railway station in Jind district.

Unofficial reports said the mob, sitting on the railway track, forced the train to stop at the outer signal and made the passengers come out before setting it ablaze. No one was injured.

Later, the mob went to the Uchana railway station and set on fire the parcel office building and records of the railway station .

Before the mob could repeat Wednesday's arson and looting at the nearby Kalayat town in Kaithal district, the police opened fire in the air, dispersing the mob as caning had failed to deter them.

Farmers laid a blockade at an intersection near Deeghal village in Jhajjar district, disrupting vehicular traffic between Rohtak and Jhajjar as well as on the Beri and Sampla roads.

Farmers presented a memorandum to Jhajjar Deputy Commissioner Rajiv Arora and Senior Superintendent of Police K K Sindhu when they visited the site of the blockade.

The memorandum, addressed to Governor Mahabir Prasad, sought judicial probe into the firing by a high court sitting judge. They also said cases should be registered against the police officers responsible for the firing.

Unofficial reports said that vehicular traffic was also disrupted at a number of places in Sonepat district. However, there was no official confirmation about it.

A complete strike was observed in Kalayat town in protest against the police failure to prevent the BKU activists from indulging in arson and looting on Wednesday.

The state government on Thursday transferred Kaithal Deputy Police Commissioner P K Das.

UNI