Gurjars cut off Rajasthan; 50,000 people stranded

New Delhi: The postmortem on the bodies of Gurjar agitators killed in protests is underway in Rajasthan.

But even as the decision to allow the autopsies and postmortems is being seen as a softening of stand on the part of the community, there seems to be no let up in the agitation.

Protesters blocked rail traffic by squatting on tracks in violence-hit Dausa district as authorities tightened security in the affected areas by deploying additional contingents of paramilitary forces.

Both rail and road traffic was severely disrupted and nearly 50,000 passengers are reportedly stranded in several parts of the state.

No way to go

Major rail routes including Jaipur-Delhi, Delhi-Mumbai, Jaipur- Ahmedabad remained blocked with a large number of agitators – including women – camped on the railways tracks at a bridge over Banganga river in Bandiqui area in Dausa district, where 14 people were killed in police firing and clashes on May 24.

To deal with any fresh spurt in the 12-day-old agitation led by Gurjar leader K S Bainsla, additional contingents of CRPF, RAF and other para-military forces have been deployed, a senior Rajasthan Government official S M Thanvi told news agencies.

He said the bodies of the 16 victims would be cremated in their respective villages with the postmortem on them being carried out. Autopsies were also conducted on the bodies of the victims in Sikandara in Dausa and in Sawaimadhopur districts yesterday.

Bainsla gets his way

On Monday, three medical teams comprising three doctors each carried out autopsies on 16 bodies at Pilupura. In Sikandra, four medical teams with three doctors each conducted the postmortem. Each team had at least one doctor of Bainsla's choice.

“Postmortem had to be carried out and it is the government who has delayed it from our side there is no delay or any such thing that'll hamper this procedure. But we still maintain that our report should go. Cremation and thereafter agitation continues with the same vigour,” Bainsla said.

All exams of Rajasthan University scheduled between June 3 and June 6 have been postponed.

While Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje appealed to Gurjar protesters to come to the negotiating table, the Centre on Monday put the ball back into Raje's court saying the initiative for giving reservation needs to be taken by the state.