Chandigarh: Spiralling violence in the Jat quota stir on Sunday claimed two more lives taking the overnight death toll to 12 as over 150 others have been injured so far, Haryana Additional Chief Secretary (Home) P K Das said.
One death was reported in a firing incident from Akbarpur-Barota, near Munak canal in Sonipat, while another person died in a clash between two groups at Hansi, he told reporters.
The top state official said authorities have not yet been able to persuade the agitators to lift the siege of Munak canal, which supplies water to Delhi.
Das said the clash between Jats and non-Jats at Hansi was an "issue of concern" but such incidents were taking place in "isolated pockets". "Overall, the situation is not like that in most of Haryana," he said.
Earlier in the day, DGP Yashpal Singhal had said the priority of the authorities was to restore Delhi's water supply from Akbarpur Barota point in Sonipat.
Police, paramilitary forces and technical team of Haryana's Irrigation department had been despatched there but Das said protesters could not be persuaded to lift the siege.
"We have not been able to evict the protesters from the spot. We have temporarily suspended the efforts to evict them as the situation may turn volatile," he said.
Referring to the committee headed by a senior Union minister to be set up to look into the demand for reservation for Jats, Das said,"As you are aware, some steps have been taken by the Centre and we hope its impact in normalising the situation will be felt soon."
The officer said Army and paramilitary forces have been deployed in eight districts. "Originally, their deployment was in district headquarters, but according to needs, they have also been deployed at Gohana, Kalanaur, Meham and Hansi."
He said the Ambala-Delhi National Highway was yet to be opened, while there were reports of some 'dhabas' being vandalised in Murthal near Sonipat. Delhi-Jaipur National Highway has been blocked near Rewari. Delhi-Hisar road was also blocked, he said.
Rail traffic has been disrupted on Ambala-Delhi and Delhi-Rohtak sections, he said.
Authorities clamped curfew in Kaithal city in view of the prevailing tension due to protests by Jats and counter demonstrations by non-Jats opposing quotas for them.
Kaithal is the ninth Haryana town where curfew has been imposed, the others being Rohtak, Bhiwani, Jhajjar, Jind, Hisar, Hansi, Sonipat and Gohana town of Sonipat district.
