ROHTAK: A Jat leader and his associates have been booked by the police for promoting enmity and public mischief. Rahul Dadu, who is leading a parallel protest under the banner of Jat Jagriti Sena, was booked for spreading false rumours on social media and promoting caste-based enmity.
The police picked up two protesters sitting on a hunger strike at the ongoing dharna, after their health deteriorated badly. Ram Singh, 65, and Raj Singh, 56, have been sitting on hunger strike since February 14, pressing for their demands, including withdrawal of cases against Jats registered during violent quota stir last year. The two men had begun vomiting blood, but had refused to accept medical aid. "Based on the doctors' recommendations, we had peacefully picked them up from the spot and admitted them to the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, where they are being given adequate medical treatment," a police spokesperson said.
However, soon, much to the police's chagrin, several audios and videos were shared on Whatsapp, by the Jat protesters, including Dadu, claiming they were manhandled, and the cops vandalised their property. Denying all claims, the police in return, booked Dadu under Sections 153 A (promoting enmity), 505 (public mischief) and 188 (disobedience) of the Indian Penal Code.
Officers said, "The messages claiming police abused and manhandled them are totally false. They even tried to incite the public on their false claims, taking cognisance of which we have booked them." On the other hand, Dadu maintained that they were manhandled. "They abused us, pushed us, tore my clothes, and even snatched mobile phones of our people who tried to record their actions. We did send videos on social media, but only asked for support of people. We have been holding peaceful dharnas, but made no inciting statements," he said.
