Three persons were killed and nine injured as stone-pelting protesters clashed with army and paramilitary personnel who were trying to clear a road blockade on Ambala-Delhi National Highway at Ladsoli village in this district, taking the toll in the Jat agitation to 19.
Efforts to reopen the crucial highway failed with the protesters putting up blockade at several places between Panipat and Delhi. The highway connects Delhi with North India, including Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab. Shortly after clearance of the National Highway, protesters gathered on the highway at Ladsoli, between Ganaur and Murthal. The mob attacked personnel of army and paramilitary forces who were trying to clear the road blockade leading to a clash in which three persons were killed and nine others were injured, a police spokesperson said.
He said those killed were identified as Sunny (of Gandhi Nagar), Rajesh (Samli), both of Ganaur area and Sandeep (Phansi, Sonipat). The nine injured have been admitted to PGI, Khanpur near Sonipat, the spokesman said. Sonipat Deputy Commissioner Rajiv Rattan said the mob pelted stones on the army and paramilitary person and used batons and other things, leaving many of the security forces injured in the process.
The mob went berserk setting on fire government and private vehicles, indulging in vandalism and attacking the security forces, he said adding there was tension in the entire area, but efforts were being made to bring the situation under control. As efforts were on to clear the blockade at Ladsoli, two other blockades were reported from Beeswan Meel near Rai and Kamaspur near Bahalgarh with protesters taking on the security personnel. The police had used force including baton charge, on the protesters at both the places and again later at Ladsoli, where the protesters reassembled.
(All images sourced from PTI)