Jaipur, May 3 (IANS) At least 97 people have been arrested in connection with the clashes that broke out between two groups in Rajasthan's Jodhpur on Monday night and continued on Tuesday following which Internet services were suspended while curfew was clamped in 10 police station areas.
The Divisional Commissioner on Tuesday suspended Internet services in the entire Jodhpur district (including Jodhpur Commissionerate) with an aim to maintain peace and cordial atmosphere and curb rumours.
According to the order issued by the Divisional Commissioner Himanshu Gupta: "2G/3G/4G/data (mobile Internet), Bulk SMS, MMS/WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter and other social media (Voice calls, Broadband Internet, Lease through Internet Service Provider) Internet services, except lines, have been suspended. This restriction will continue till further orders."
The clashes had first erupted late Monday night.
The violence began after some people were raising flags at the Jalori Gate intersection around 11.30 p.m. on Monday. A person making a video of this was beaten up by some youth. When some people came to his rescue, they beat them also. After this, the other group started throwing stones. Deputy Commissioner of Police East and Udaymandir SHO were injured in the stone pelting.
The violence erupted again on Tuesday morning at the Jalori Gate over the unfurling of a flag. The police cane-charged the miscreants, fired tear gas shells and dispersed the mob.
In view of the tense situation, curfew was imposed in 10 police station areas.
Meanwhile, the Police Commissionerate has issued a partially amended order which says that students appearing in various school examinations, competitive examinations, teachers and staff engaged in examination work will be allowed to move during the curfew.
Medical emergency services, medical staff, bank employees, officials related to judicial services, employees, journalists and media persons would require to show identity cards or documents.
If necessary in special circumstances, the concerned Assistant Commissioner of Police would be able to grant permission to go out in the curfew.
Rest of the orders will remain the same.
ADG Law and Order Hawa Singh Ghumaria told that strict adherence to curfew in Jodhpur is being maintained.
Around 1,000 police personnel have been deployed in the district and every incident -- small or big -- is being closely monitored, he added.
Meanwhile, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot directed the police and the administration to identify the anti-social elements responsible for the incidents that disturb communal harmony and brotherhood, and take stern action against them. He termed the incident in Jodhpur unfortunate.
Addressing a high-level meeting at the Chief Minister's Office on Tuesday, he said that a criminal, irrespective of religion, caste or class, must not be spared if found to be involved in criminal activities and appealed to the general public to maintain peace.
He directed Home Minister Rajendra Singh Yadav, Minister in-charge of Jodhpur Subhash Garg, Additional Chief Secretary, Home, Abhay Kumar and Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Hawa Singh Ghumaria to immediately rush to Jodhpur.
A nine-member committee of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), the consortium of protesting farmers' bodies, will be meeting on Saturday, and it is likely to put forth four main demands. The meeting will also decide whether the SKM will go ahead with the originally announced 'March Towards Delhi' programme on November 26.
Congress legislator and Punjab unit party president Navjot Singh Sidhu on Friday said the minimum support price (MSP) is the bigger issue than farm laws as it is the lifeline of farmers.
Extending his greetings to the people on Prakash Purb of Guru Nanak Dev, the Chief Minister said it was really a matter of great honour to inaugurate this prestigious project which happens to coincide with Gurpurab.
Three employees of Air India, accused of having a role in the smuggling of gold, have been arrested, officials said on Friday. They have been accused of having a hand in a recent incident wherein 1.5 kg gold -- stored beneath an aircraft's seat -- was seized.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement on Friday to repeal the three farm laws has brought cheers to the agitating farmers' organisations.However, Anil Ghanwat, a farm leader from Maharashtra who was one of the three members of the Supreme Court appointed committee on farm laws earlier this year, has termed the decision as "unfortunate".
Coinciding with the auspicious occasion of Guru Nanak Jayanti, Modi also announced that the constitutional process to repeal the laws would be taken up in the winter session of Parliament that begins on November 29 and appealed to the agitating farmers to withdraw their agitation and go back to their homes.
