[Onthebarricades] INDIA: Gujjar protests spread to New Delhi

[Andy]

http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/07/06/05/10130092.html

     World  
           
                  India 
                 
           
            Published: 05/06/2007 12:00 AM (UAE)
           
                                AP
                                A woman runs away as a truck burns in the village of Aya Nagar, on the outskirts of New Delhi yesterday. Police said protesters were also trying to block highways.  
                             
                       
                             
                              Ethnic group blocks road to Delhi in protest over quotas 
                              Reuters
                               
                             

                              New Delhi: Hundreds of protesters from an Indian ethnic group demanding special government privileges blocked highways leading to New Delhi yesterday, some clashing with police who retaliated by firing teargas.

                              This is the seventh day of protests by ethnic Gujjars, who are demanding they be declared a Scheduled Tribe (ST) which will entitle them to government jobs and college seats. Twenty-three people have been killed in the western state of Rajasthan.

                              Police said protesters were attempting to block traffic on at least four major highways into New Delhi, adding that in some areas demonstrators had thrown stones at police who responded by firing teargas shells into the crowds.

                              "The protesters have been pelting us heavily with stones so we have had to fire teargas at them to control the situation," said Anil Shukla, a senior Delhi police official. 


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                              "In south Delhi, we have arrested around 40 people alone."

                              Thousands of police and paramilitary forces have been deployed and barricades have been set up in sensitive areas and major roads leading to the capital.

                              Local television stations showed two buses and some trucks on fire, and burning tyres strewn across roads in several areas.

                              In other areas, demonstrators waved sticks, held hands and blocked roads, causing massive traffic jams. Some also burnt effigies of Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, who they accuse of ignoring their demands.

                              Anger spreads

                              The protests by the Gujjars, a community of shepherds and farmers, began last week in Rajasthan and were fuelled after police shot dead 14 Gujjars during a clash on Tuesday.

                              Anger has since spread to other parts of the country where Gujjars have sizeable populations, including New Delhi.

                              "We Gujjars are a very brave people and are tough fighters," said demonstrator Rajinder Nagaar.

                              "We will not settle for anything less than Scheduled Tribe status," he added.
                             
                       
                 
           
     
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