Jat Agitation: Delhi Preps For Lockdown From Today, Metro Services Restricted

 Jat groups have threatened to intensify their agitation demanding reservation in government jobs and colleges at Delhi's Jantar Mantar from tomorrow, prompting the police to enforce traffic restrictions from tonight. Metro trains will not travel beyond the city's borders from 11.30 pm today, while 12 stations in Central Delhi will be shut from 8 pm till further orders. The Delhi Police has also issued an advisory for commuters and ordered the closure of several key routes from 8 pm onwards in the national capital.

The affected stations will be Rajiv Chowk, Patel Chowk, Central Secretariat, Udyog Bhawan, Lok Kalyan Marg, Janpath, Mandi House, Barakhamba Road, R K Ashram Marg, Pragati Maidan, Khan Market and Shivaji stadium.

As directed by Delhi Police, services will not be available at Yellow line stations at Gurgaon, Blue Line stations at Noida and Violet Line stations at Faridabad.

"The services to all these stations will be resumed only after getting clearance from Delhi Police," a metro official said.

The Delhi Police has decided to shut down key routes, including entry points, in the city as a precautionary measure.

The police, however, said that residents, employees working in New Delhi district, and emergency services will be allowed to enter the New Delhi district in the heart of the national capital "after proper verification and checking" from 11 pm onwards.

The Jat agitation, which began on January 29, completed 49 days on Saturday.

The All India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti (AIJASS) had earlier announced that the community would intensify its agitation by taking their protest to Delhi on March 20.

Talks between the state government and the Jat leaders hit a roadblock last month as the Haryana government made it clear that it has no jurisdiction to withdraw cases being investigated by the CBI against some Jat leaders over violence during the agitation last year.

Their demands include reservation for Jats, jobs to the next of kin of those killed in violence in the Jat agitation last year, compensation to those injured, withdrawal of cases against them and action against the officers, who ordered action against the Jats, among others.

Violence during the agitation last year had left 30 people dead and over 200 injured. Government and private property worth hundreds of crores of rupees was damaged during the violence in February 2016.

Following is the traffic advisory for Sunday released by the Delhi Police: