Fresh firing took place on Monday in Haryana’s Sonipat district as Jats demanding job quotas blocked the Delhi-Ambala highway, hours after traffic on it was restored. Meanwhile, the death toll in the nearly 10 days of violence was put at 16.
Police sources said the Jat demonstrators fought pitched battles with soldiers by hurling stones and bricks near Ladsoli village, 55 km from New Delhi. The army fired at the Jats, leaving a few injured, the sources said, after they blocked the National Highway-1 again.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal thanked the army for its intervention.
Thank u army, thank u centre for securing munak canal back. Great relief for delhi
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) February 22, 2016
Education Minister Ram Bilas Sharma meanwhile said that the Haryana violence had left 16 people dead. He said the cabinet discussed the latest situation in the state. The army also took control of the Munak canal in Sonipat district earlier in the morning. The canal supplies water supply to Delhi, and the supply of water resumed partially to the national capital.
