JAIPUR: The Rajasthan Government on Saturday enforced the National Security Act in 10 districts affected by the Gujjar agitation to contain organised violence, group aggression and damage to public property.

Dausa, Bharatpur, Karauli, Sawai Madhopur, Tonk, Bundi, Kota, Baran, Jhalawar and Ajmer Collectors were empowered to detain those indulging in violence under the NSA.

Principal Secretary, Home, V.S. Singh, told reporters here that "mischievous elements," than agitators, were involved in stray incidents of violence and clashes with police on the fifth day of the agitation. However, angry Gujjars were still on the streets in support of their demand of Scheduled Tribe status.

Rajasthan's borders with Uttar Pradesh and Haryana were sealed to prevent entry of unruly elements.

Mr. Singh, who visited Mahuwa on the Jaipur-Agra National Highway-11 along with Director-General of Police A.S. Gill, said an alternative route to Agra via Rajgarh and Alwar was opened to facilitate vehicular movement. If the agitators agreed to lift the Sikandara roadblock, a shorter diversion could be opened.

Traffic on all National and State Highways, except NH-11, was normal. On Saturday, 23 Rajasthan State Road Transport buses moved from here to Delhi on NH-8 with adequate security. On Friday, the number was 20. The Army was patrolling a 110-km-long "difficult stretch" of the Jaipur-Delhi highway, Mr. Singh said.

Patrolling by the Army and paramilitary forces was intensified in the regions having a mixed population of Gujjars and Meenas.

Prices up

The Kota district administration prevailed over Gujjars to restore milk supply to the city.

However, prices of vegetables and fruits soared in most towns in the wake of a sharp decline in supplies from Uttar Pradesh and Delhi.

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