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Wednesday, May 28, 2008
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Stalemate in Rajasthan

Sunny Sebastian

Cases filed against Bainsla

JAIPUR: The Rajasthan authorities and the Gujjar leadership are yet to reach an agreement on the mode of disposal of the bodies of those killed in the police firing on agitators at Bayana and Sikandra last week.

Tension prevailed in Bayana and the surrounding areas, though no major incident was reported from any part of the State. As part of the measures to put pressure on the agitators squatting on the railway track at Pilupura, the authorities initiated a series of legal measures, including promulgation of the National Security Act, in 15 districts. Fifty persons have been booked under the Act.

The police have filed cases against Gujjar leader Kirori Singh Bainsla in connection with the killing of a head constable of the Rajasthan Armed Constabulary in Bayana in Friday’s violence.

Besides, the Rajasthan High Court has issued summons to him for not following a court directive to maintain peace and protect public property. As per Monday’s understanding with the Gujjar Arakshan Sangarsh Samiti (Gujjar reservation action committee), mobile teams waited for carrying out the post-mortem examination at Pilupura, but the differences over how and when the bodies should be disposed of remained and the autopsies could not be done.

The Gujjars want the bodies to be returned to them after the autopsy, while the authorities are keen on their immediate cremation.

“Something will have to be done. We hope and pray that we won’t have to use force. Though we have the wherewithal, we will surely try to avoid a forcible shifting of the bodies,” S.N. Thanvi, Principal Secretary, who is camping in the area, said.

“There is a decline in the number of people squatting around the bodies. Their number has come down to around 2000-3000 from 5000-6000 the previous day. We also notice the family members of the victims want the bodies back,” he said.“It is a leaderless crowd,” Mr. Thanvi said explaining the predicament of the government on the negotiations. “Whom do we negotiate with? Col. Bainsla is surrounded by a group of youths who would not let him do things the way perhaps he wants,” he noted.

“Col. Bainsla is under tremendous pressure. There is no leadership hierarchy with whom we can hold a dialogue,” he observed.

Though the government is tightlipped, indications are that spiritual leader Shri Shri Ravishankar has approached the authorities expressing his willingness to mediate on the issue of the dead bodies. Shri Ravishankar reportedly spoke to Ms. Raje and Gujjar leaders.

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