The Hindu : Other States / Rajasthan News : Curfew-bound Rajasthan towns still tense

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Wednesday, Dec 08, 2004

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Curfew-bound Rajasthan towns still tense

By Our Special Correspondent

JAIPUR, DEC. 7. Tension continued in the curfew- bound towns of Bikaner division in north west Rajasthan today as farmers refused to lift the body of Hazoor Singh, who was killed at 17 KYD village in Bikaner district the previous day after coming under a police truck, for cremation.

Reports reaching here said that the villagers, numbering around 1,500, kept a vigil at the body at the spot where Hazoor Singh was killed while on his way to the "maha padav''(big siege) in Kajuwala town. The farmers are demanding the release of the leaders held under National Security Act as a condition for the disposal of the body.

The Leader of the Opposition, B.D.Kalla, the former Communist Party of India(Marxist) MP, Sheopath Singh, and Virendra Beniwal, MLA, visited 17 KYD to address the farmers.

The former Chief Minister and Congress general secretary, Ashok Gehlot, who reached Sriganganagar this morning was prevented from visiting the curfew-bound towns. He later went to Suratgarh town and addressed a meeting. Talking from Hanumangarh in the evening, Mr.Gehlot told this Correspondent that he would be meeting the Rajasthan Governor, Pratibha Patil, tomorrow to brief her on the situation in the area. "There is tension all over,'' he said.

Army personnel, deployed late evening yesterday to help the civic authorities in maintaining law and order, continued their patrol Rawala and Ghadsana towns and at the 281 head in Sriganganagar district. Curfew was extended to 365 head in Ghadsana tehsil today. Barring Rawala where curfew was relaxed for an hour between 8 to 9 in the morning no curfew relaxation was allowed in other towns.

Normal life came to a standstill in many towns and rural areas of Sriganganagar district as the Mazdoor Kisan Vyapari Sangarsh Samiti carried out a chakka jam(traffic bloc) to protest the arrest of farmers' leaders as well as the police action in Kajuwala. Road blocs were set up near the bus stand in Sriganganagar town, at Suratgarh road by-pass, at the Sadulshahar-Karadwada chouraha and in other strategic locations to disrupt vehicular traffic.

In Hanumangarh district's Sangaria and Rawatsar, the farmers held public meetings demanding the release those arrested under NSA. The CPI(M) State secretary, Vasudev, addressed the meetings.

The Pradesh Congress General secretary, Ashq Ali Tak, speaking from Sriganganagar said the party would hold a dharna in Sriganganagar on the Human Rights Day on December 10, demanding the release of those held under NSA.

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