The Rohtak police on Wednesday registered an FIR against former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda’s close aide, Professor Virender Singh, on sedition charges for his alleged involvement in the Jat agitation, reported Hindustan Times. According to reports, the FIR is based on an audio clip of a phone call between Singh and a Khap leader, which was released in the media. Singh was reportedly heard provoking more violence in the state. The police is still trying to verify the authenticity of the clip, while the state government has said the matter will be investigated.
The Haryana government on Wednesday lifted curfew in the Hisar district, and relaxed restrictions in Rohtak and Bhiwani, as rail and road blockades were cleared after six days of violent protests led by members of the Jat community. PTI reported that while curfew was lifted in Hisar, Section 144 of the Indian Penal Code banning assembly of five or more persons will remain in force. "The situation is peaceful in Rohtak city today. No untoward incident has been reported from anywhere," a senior police official said.
The Delhi-Ambala National Highway was opened on Tuesday evening after remaining closed for four days. A railway spokesman said service from Hisar has resumed, and trains on the Delhi-Ambala-Chandigarh route will also start running soon. General Manager of Haryana Roadways (Hisar) Ram Kumar said bus service from Hisar has also been restored.
This was after media reports said that vehicles were stopped on the national highway near Murthal and women passengers were sexually assaulted by protestors on Monday morning. The Tribune reported that protestors set National Capital Region-bound vehicles ablaze and harassed women passengers. A senior IPS officer, however, said the incident was a rumour.
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