Haryana sets up inquiry commission to probe Jat stir violence

Chandigarh, April 8 (IANS) The Haryana government on Friday announced the setting up of a two-member Commission of Inquiry to inquire into violence and the circumstances leading to it during the Jat agitation for reservation in February.

The commission has been asked to submit its report within six months from the date of its first sitting.

The commission headed by Justice S.N. Jha (retd), a former chief justice of Jammu and Kashmir and the Rajasthan high courts, has former IPS officer N.C. Padhi as member. Padhi is a former secretary (security) of the central government.

The commission will look into the "sequence of events leading to, and all facts and circumstances relating to, the occurrence of violence leading to loss of lives, damage to properties, both private and public, including roads, canals, railway stations, police stations and illegal felling of trees and violation of human rights" from February 18 to 23 in Rohtak, Jhajjar, Sonepat, Jind, Hisar, Kaithal and Bhiwani districts.

"The Commission will also inquire into existence of a deep-rooted conspiracy, if any, to damage the social fabric of society and any such matter as may be found relevant in the course of the inquiry," a state government spokesman said here.

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar announced in the recent assembly budget session that a judicial inquiry would be ordered to inquire into arson and disturbances during the Jat agitation for reservation under the Backward Class quota in government jobs and educational institutions.

"The commission shall also inquire into complaints or allegations that may be made before it by any individual or association," the spokesman said.

The Jat stir violence in February claimed 30 lives and left over 320 people injured. Property and assets worth hundreds of crores of rupees were damaged or destroyed in the violence that paralysed the state for nearly 10 days.