Dungarpur: Rajasthan Police has arrested at least 97 people till Sunday in connection with the violence and arson in Dungarpur. However, police have said that more arrests may likely happen soon.
Last week, thousands of people took to streets demanding recruitment of Scheduled Tribe (ST) category candidates in the 1,167 vacant unreserved positions for teacher posts. The protests turned violent when the protestors blocked the traffic on National Highway 8 in Dungarpur district, vandalised police officials' vehicles and also pelted stones injuring a dozen policemen. The unruly mob had vandalised shops, petrol pumps, hotels and set vehicles on fire.
The police had earlier registered an FIR on September 26 against 3,000 people in connection with the incident. The FIR was registered in the Bichhiwara police station.
"Images and videos related to the incident are making rounds on social media. We took the help of photographs to identify the miscreants and arrested them. Government teachers have also been taken into custody. In Dungarpur alone, 25 FIRs have been filed and 28 people have been arrested," said a police official.
The police teams are using footage from CCTVs, media channels, and videos which went viral on social media to identify and nab the accused, the police said.
READ: Situation improves in Dungarpur after minister meets protesters
A total of 17 FIRs have been registered in the Sadar police station and 52 people have been arrested. According to sources, BTP state President Dr Velaram Ghogra, former BJP MLA Devendra Katara, BTP leader Kanti Roth, youth leader Vikram Katara and head of students' union Kamlesh Ghatiya has come to the fore who are allegedly involved in giving provocative speeches and for instigating the mob.
BJP minister Sushil Katara, BTP MLA Rajkumar Rot, Ramprasad Dindor, Kushalgarh MLA Ramila Khadia, Ghatol MLA Harendra Ninama, Chikhali's former chief Mahendra Barjod also visited the protest site, a matter which is being investigated by the police. Technical assistant of the Electricity Corporation of Dausa district Banwarilal Meena has been suspended.
The situation had deteriorated in the region after candidates of a teacher recruitment exam confronted police and indulged in arson. The protesters had created a ruckus demanding that 1,167 vacant general quota seats be filled from the Scheduled Tribes (ST) category. Later acting upon the directions of the Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Tribal Area Development Minister Arjun Singh Bamniya, along with other leaders, had met the agitating students.
READ: Protest over teachers' exam turns violent in Rajasthan
With ANI inputs
