RAIPUR: The anti-reservation stir took a violent turn in Chhattisgarh region in Madhya Pradesh as students set afire a government bus here while in Bilaspur, a mob of about 2000 agitating students pelted stones at a Congress-I rally addressed by state chief minister Shyama Charan Shukla or Wednesday night.
Police used canes and teargas to disperse the rioting students, who broke the police cordon to present a memorandum to the chief minister. Five policemen were injured in the incident.
Incidents of setting buses on fire by throwing petrol bombs were also reported form several parts of the city. Police said 108 students were taken into custody so far.
Thirteen students were taken into custody in connection with a clash between pro-and anti-reservation groups at Saraipalli town.
In the state capital Bhopal, schools remained closed for the fifth day as groups of students ‘went round the city forcing the closure of educational institutions.
Meanwhile, chief minister Shukla, addressing a public meeting in Bilaspur, appealed to the people not to support the agitation since “the anti-reservation movement would only lead to class war”.
There has been a growing opposition to the reservation policy of the government and several persons have died in incidents of violence in this connection in the country, last year.
Article extracted from this publication >> January 26, 1990
