Jat agitation: Destruction worth Rs 20,000 crore in Haryana, says probe panel chief

The Prakash Singh Committee report on Jat agitation has identified 90 officials who indulged in "deliberate negligence" when violence hit Haryana.

Chandigarh: The Parkash Singh Committee, set up to probe lapses in the official response to the violence during the Jat agitation in Haryana in February, has held certain police and administrative officers guilty of laxity.

The panel, headed by Parkash Singh, former Director General of Police (DGP) Uttar Pradesh and Assam, submitted its report to Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar here on Friday.

The report has identified about 90 officials who indulged in "deliberate negligence" when violence hit Haryana, noting that in some areas "mayhem" was allowed for hours, with authorities turning a blind eye to the loot and damage.

At least 30 people, mostly young men, were killed and over 320 others injured during the Jat reservation agitation from February 7 to 22 this year, which turned violent and paralysed life in 10 districts of Haryana.

The report mentions that property worth hundreds of crores of rupees was damaged and destroyed in the mayhem. Talking to Firstpost, the probe panel chief said destruction of around Rs 20,000 crore took place in Haryana during Jat agitation. “Even terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) couldn’t have done worse.”

The Committee, which submitted its report within 71 days from the date of formation, hoped that the government would take strict action against those who did not perform their duty in maintaining law and order during the agitation.

Khattar, after getting the report, said the government would examine it and take appropriate action at the earliest.

The Jat reservation agitation resulted in blockade of roads, including national highways, and extensive damage to public and private properties in many districts during the violence.

The report examined the role of officers in the affected districts of Rohtak, Jhajjar, Jind, Hisar, Kaithal, Bhiwani, Sonepat and Panipat, a state government spokesman said here.

"Officers who were derelict in the performance of their duties or who showed soft corner for the agitators and thereby allowed them a long rope have been identified," the spokesman said.

The committee was set up to probe into omissions and commission on the part of all officers and officials of civil and police administration during the pro-reservation agitation.

(With Agency inputs)