A sedition case was today registered against Jat Sangharsh Samiti chief Yashpal Malik and 125 others for allegedly threatening peace and communal harmony in Haryana by instigating people to launch a fresh quota agitation.
Malik had organised a meeting at a local Jat Dharamshala on Wednesday where he announced another agitation on June 5, demanding reservation for Jats, withdrawal of cases registered during the previous protests and compensation to those killed during the agitation in February.
Haryana was on the boil in February this year when members of Jat community held protests and indulged in arson seeking reservation in government jobs.
Thirty people were killed in the violence and there was extensive damage to property during the stir whose epicentre was Rohtak district.
"A case has been registered against Yashpal Malik and 125 others for instigating people for agitation that can disturb peace and harm communal harmony in the state," police said.
The case has been registered under Section 124 A (sedition), 153 A (1) and 153 (b) (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race etc) of the IPC.
Malik had threatened to stage protests in other states as well, police said.
The Jat leader and his followers used language which could potentially instigate people to launch violent agitation against Haryana government and create law and order problem in the state, they said
Police said they have launched an investigation in the case, adding they are likely to arrest the persons involved.
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Meanwhile, Additional Director General Police (Law and Order) Mohd Akil today said police was fully prepared to deal with the new quota agitation announced by the Jats from June 5.
Akil said they would try to make protesters understand and not resort to violence.
"However, if they do not understand, police would use force against such protesters, without any consideration of caste or community," he said, according to an official release here.
