Gujjar leader booked for constable’s murder
Cases have been filed against the Gujjar Sanghrash Samiti chief and its office bearers, reports KS Tomar.
Two days after the Gujjars called off their violent agitation for scheduled tribe (ST) status in the state, the Rajasthan police struck on Wednesday booking their leader Col Kirori Singh Bainsala and his supporters for the murder of a constable near Patoli.
Superintendent of police Kauroli Praful Kumar told
HT
on the phone that FIRs had been registered under sections 302, 147, 148 of Indian Penal Code for murder, damaging public property and indulging in violence. No arrests have been made yet, he added.
Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria said they had begun "filing the cases even before talks with Gujjar leaders had started". The SP said the "case against Bainsala pertains to inciting the mob. The police have not directly registered an FIR against him under section 302. We will identify the real culprits from the 15 persons who lynched the policeman."
Protesting against the development, GSS leader Dr Roop Singh said the police had been "recklessly arresting our supporters which is against the spirit of the agreement signed with the government."
"Villagers of Kotputali, Deeg, Todabhim, Nandah, Boli, Bayana are saying that hundreds of Gujjars have been arrested. Many are on the run because of fear of police action," Singh alleged.
"At least four cases, including charges of murder, have been filed against Gujjar leaders in Mahua and Toda Bhim police stations," he added.
Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria said "the demonstrators had burnt the police stations at Kota and Boli. Police arrested some persons to recover weapons looted by them".
He assured that the police would not harass anyone, but action will be taken against those who had indulged in arson and looting, which was made clear to the GSS leaders when the agreement was being signed.