Jaipur, June 3
Security was beefed up in parts of Rajasthan today as the bodies of the Gujjars killed in the violence in the past 12 days were cremated by their relatives. “We have stepped up security in and around Bayana and Sikandra towns,” V.S. Singh, state principal secretary, home, told IANS today. He said the post-mortem examination of 16 bodies in Pilupura in Bayana, in Bharatpur district, was completed last evening.

“We have information that 11 bodies were cremated by relatives in Karauli district while other bodies are likely to be cremated today,” a district administration official from Bharatpur said. He said efforts were being made to perform post-mortem on 20 bodies in Sikandra in Dausa district, over 80 km from here, today. “A post-mortem was conducted yesterday and doctors have gone to undertake more autopsies today,” V.S. Singh added. Meanwhile, for the 12th consecutive day, the Gujjars continued to block road and rail traffic. Tension continued to prevail in parts of Rajasthan, which witnessed violent protests by Gujjars demanding Scheduled Tribes status. The Gujjar women, who laid siege to the railway line near Bandikui station in Dausa district on Sunday last, continue to squat on the line affecting the movement of trains on the Jaipur-Delhi sector.

“At least 16 trains have been affected on the route,” an official of north western railway, Jaipur division, said. Col K.S. Bainsla, head of the Gujjar Sangharsh Aarakshan Samiti, and hundreds of his supporters are squatting on the railway line near the Dhumaria station, close to Bayana town. — IANS