Deadly caste violence in India's northern state continues as authorities call for peace

At least five people were killed in fresh violence Saturday in India's northern state of Haryana, as authorities deployed additional forces to contain the agitating Jat protesters seeking reservations in government jobs and education, local media reports said.

Four people was killed in Jhajjar district, while another one was killed in Kaithal district after army deployed in the districts opened fire on protesters, NDTV, a television news channel said.

Many people including some policemen were also reported injured in the clashes that continued on second day.

On Friday, three people were reported dead and over 70 injured in the clashes after agitators resorted to arson.

However, authorities have not confirmed deaths.

While addressing media on Saturday, Police Chief of Haryana Y.P. Singhal said that one person was killed and over 70 people including some policemen were injured in violence.

Officials said 23 units of Indian army and paramilitary have been deployed in nine districts of the state and curfew has been imposed in several violence hit areas.

Army used helicopters to ferry its men in the affected areas as protesters had dug the roads.

The agitators set ablaze shops, a mall, several vehicles including police cars, toll posts, railway stations, petrol pump, a house of local minister and several government buildings.

The agitators also looted an armoury in Rothak district Friday evening.

Authorities on Saturday issued shoot-on-sight orders, as columns of army staged a flag march in a bid to regain calm.

At several places protesters defied curfew and resorted to arson, officials said.

Television images showed mobs on roads and trucks shouting slogans to seek reservation.

The agitation was going on since Monday, however, it turned violent after talks with local government led by right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) failed.

The state's Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar Saturday again appealed for calm and urged people not to damage public property.

"No one will be benefited by damaging public property," Khattar said in a televised address. "I urge everyone not to be swayed by unfounded rumours and maintain peace in the state."

However, Jat leaders have threatened to continue their protests until their demands are met.

"We will end our protests immediately after government announces it has accepted our demand," Yashapal Malik, the president of a national Jat organisation said. "Now we are not ready to buy their false promises."

The agitation and violence has affected normal life in the state and affected road and rail transport through the state. Reports said over 800 trains were cancelled because of the Haryana agitation.

Last month, a group of protesters in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh resorted to arson and torched a police station, several vehicles and train.

In India quotas for lower castes and economically weaker sections are guaranteed constitutionally.

Analysts say quotas give people in India an advantage in government jobs and education.

Although Jats are listed as upper caste, they are demanding the status of Other Backward Classes (OBCs), citing the quotas for other lower castes put them at a disadvantage. Enditem