Gurugram authorities deploy 22 magistrates, slap ban orders ahead of Jat stir

Gurgaon: Bracing up for the renewed agitation by a section of Jats from June 5, Gurgaon district authorities on Friday appointed 22 duty magistrates and issued orders prohibiting any gathering of five or more persons in the district for the next 60 days.

Besides 22 duty magistrates, three sub-divisional magistrates have been put in overall charge of their respective areas.

The district administration has already held a coordination meeting between civil and police officers, Gurgaon Deputy Commissioner T.L. Satyaprakash told the media at the mini-secretariat here.

Satyaprakash said any group resorting to unlawful activities will be dealt with sternly under the National Security Act, enforced in the state.

He said the preventive steps have been taken even though representatives of a majority of Jat organisations in Gurgaon have assured of deferring their protest till July 21, by when the state government is expected to file its reply to the Punjab and Haryana High Court notice in a case.

On June 1, the Jat Sangharsh Samiti said the community will not protest for quota in government jobs and education institutions till July 21.

The deputy commissioner said that messages on the social media were also under surveillance and those found sending inflammatory messages would be taken to task.

Meanwhile, Satyaprakash, who is also the district magistrate, has issued orders under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code, prohibiting all activities like any gathering of five or more persons, and blocking roads, passages, railway tracks, water channels, power houses etc.

No firearms, swords, lathis, knives and other sharp-edged weapons of offence likely to cause injury or obstruct the maintenance of peace would be allowed to be carried.