INDIA: Police shoot two protestors dead druing demonstrations by oppponents of government job reservation plan near hospital where a protestor died after setting himself ablaze

Record ID: 751735

  • Title: INDIA: Police shoot two protestors dead druing demonstrations by oppponents of government job reservation plan near hospital where a protestor died after setting himself ablaze
  • Date: 25th September 1990
  • Summary: NEW DELHI, INDIA (SEPTEMBER 24 AND 25, 1990) (REUTERS ARUN KAPOOR AND RAMESH CHAND ) (SEPTEMBER 25, 1990) (VISNEWS' ARUN KAPOOR) LV AND SV PROTESTERS CHANTING OUTSIDE HOSPITAL GATE (2 SHOTS) LV ZOOM IN SECURITY FORCES FIRE TEAR GAS LVS DEMONSTRATORS AND SECURITY FORCES THROWING OBJECTS AT EACH OTHER (2 SHOTS) CU AND SV PAN INJURED PEOPLE TAKEN AWAY BY POLICE (2 SHOTS) (SEPTEMBER 24) (VISNEWS' RAMESH CHAND) CU AND SV POLICE HOLDING DEMONSTRATORS AT BAY ACROSS GATE (3 SHOTS) TOP VIEW PAN AND GV OFFICERS PREPARE TO THROW TEAR GAS CANNISTER AS TROOPS CHASE OFF DEMONSTRATORS (2 SHOTS) CU AND SVS TEAR GAS EXPLODING AS POLICEMEN ARREST WOMEN DEMONSTRATORS (4 SHOTS)
  • Embargoed: 10th October 1990 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: DELHI, INDIA
  • Country: India
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA5X6FUYCHD4P4C7JQNUHYUBPTK
  • Story Text: Police in Delhi shot dead two people on Tuesday (September 25) during battles with students protesting against a government decision to reserve more state jobs for lower caste Hindus.

    The previous day a student, Surjit Singh Chauhan, burned himself to death, becoming the first person to die in a series of self-immolations backing up the most recent protests over the past six days.

    Backed by paramilitary forces, police used batons and tear gas to fight stone-throwing crowds who set 20 government vehicles ablaze. 2,000 police and paramilitary colleagues ringed Safdarjung hospital, where Chauhan died of his injuries.

    In the middle of the night police cleared some 2,000 high-caste students blockading a major road crossing near the hospital, arresting 200 people.

    The violence was the worst in the wave of protests which erupted after Indian Prime Minister Vishwanath Pratap Singh's August 7 decision to increase reserved government jobs for low caste Hindus and other underprivileged groups from 22.5 per cent to nearly half.

    Critics say the government plan will strengthen the rigid Hindu caste hierarchy that determines a person's position at birth. They want jobs to be allocated on economic, not caste, grounds.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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