Govt accepts Jats' demand for compensation, curfew lifted

The state government has accepted the three main demands of the protesters, Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda told reporters after a meeting with the representatives of the Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti spearheading the stir.

The accepted demands include a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the family of the youth killed in police firing, job to a member of his family and registration of a case against Subhash Yadav, who was last night removed as Superintendent of Police (SP), Hissar, he said asking people to maintain peace.

The Samiti has "deferred its agitation" following talks with the State Government and agreed to cremate the youth killed allegedly in police firing yesterday, Hooda said at a press conference in Chandigarh.

Curfew, which was imposed in the district in view of the tense situation continuing for the second consecutive day, was lifted late this evening, Hissar District Magistrate Yudhvir Singh Khyalia said.

A report from Hissar said that before the cremation of the youth, President of the Sangharsh Samiti Yashpal Malik met the family of the deceased and conveyed to them the decisions of the state government, including the financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh.
However, Malik said though the community had decided to immediately suspend its protest in Hisar and elsewhere and open the road blockades following acceptance of the three demands the agitation for reservation in government jobs under OBC category would continue.

Earlier speaking at Sonepat, Malik and other Samiti members had warned the Central and the State Governments that if its demand for quota was not met by October 3, it will intensify its agitation and block all the roads leading to Delhi.
Giving a clean chit to the Sangharsh Samiti leading the agitation, Hooda said that the damage to the government and private property, including civil and police vehicles, was done by anti-social elements and not by the Jat protesters.

Spokesmen of the protesters including Jai Parkash said in a statement they have also demanded that the cases lodged against the agitationists after the violence at Mayyar in Hissar district be withdrawn and no arrest should be made.
Violence had erupted in Hissar and adjoining areas yesterday after members of the Samiti demanding quota for the community under the OBC category blocked several roads.

A youth was killed and over 10 persons, including policemen, were injured in violent clash between the protestors and the police.