Almost six months after the Jat agitation for reservation in February led to large-scale violence in the state claiming 30 lives, the Haryana government has written to the Centre seeking a CBI probe into the “criminal and political” angle to three cases of violence and vandalism of property in the city, including two cases related to the attack on the family of state finance minister Captain Abhimanyu Singh Sindhu. The minister’s house was also set on fire during the attack. The third case pertains to arson and vandalism at the Circuit House.
Additional Chief Secretary-Home, Ram Niwas, told The Hindu that the probe into three cases pertaining to FIR numbers 45, 65 and 118 was referred to the CBI. “Though there were incidents of violence across the state, the murderous attack on the family of Capt. Abhimanyu and an attempt to burn them alive were among the most sensational cases. Two FIRs registered in this connection have been forwarded for a CBI probe. The third case pertains to setting ablaze the Circuit House. The cases were sent for the CBI probe on August 9,” said Mr. Ram Niwas.
Army called in
Several shops, shopping malls, and schools were set ablaze in the city during three-day violence across the state. Eventually, the Army had to be called in to bring the situation under control. On February 19, a mob had broken into the minister’s house, set it ablaze, and allegedly tried to kill his family members.
Former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said that instead of seeking a CBI probe into just three cases, the government should order a thorough probe into the entire incident. “More than 1,000 FIRs were registered in Rohtak alone. Also, it was the attack on students in a hostel in Rohtak that sparked off violence in the city, which later spread to the entire state. Even the Prakash Singh Committee and the Rohtak Superintendent of Police have accepted this. It should also be investigated into. The government should try to get to the bottom of it [violence during the Jat agitation] and fix responsibility.”
Additional Chief Secretary-Home, Ram Niwas, told The Hindu that the probe into three cases pertaining to FIR numbers 45, 65 and 118 was referred to the CBI. “Though there were incidents of violence across the state, the murderous attack on the family of Capt. Abhimanyu and an attempt to burn them alive were among the most sensational cases. Two FIRs registered in this connection have been forwarded for a CBI probe. The third case pertains to setting ablaze the Circuit House. The cases were sent for the CBI probe on August 9,” said Mr. Ram Niwas.
Army called in
Several shops, shopping malls, and schools were set ablaze in the city during three-day violence across the state. Eventually, the Army had to be called in to bring the situation under control. On February 19, a mob had broken into the minister’s house, set it ablaze, and allegedly tried to kill his family members.
Former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said that instead of seeking a CBI probe into just three cases, the government should order a thorough probe into the entire incident. “More than 1,000 FIRs were registered in Rohtak alone. Also, it was the attack on students in a hostel in Rohtak that sparked off violence in the city, which later spread to the entire state. Even the Prakash Singh Committee and the Rohtak Superintendent of Police have accepted this. It should also be investigated into. The government should try to get to the bottom of it [violence during the Jat agitation] and fix responsibility.”