Jats protest leaves millions in New Delhi without water

World Today

India’s military says it is back in control of a canal that had been taken over and sabotaged by protesters, after days of deadly demonstrations.

The blockade has left some 10 million people in India’s capital without water, and officials say repairs may take days.

CCTV America’s Roee Ruttenberg reports.

More details:

  • The water is still running, but the Munak canal in Haryana State, in northern India, has been badly damaged.
  • The armed soldiers on its banks stand guard following a battle waged early on Monday to regain control from Jat protestors.
  • The influential land-rich community has been demanding more government jobs, after two years of drought have decimated their local farming economy. Official quotas are largely reserved for members of India’s lower castes, and don’t include the Jats.
  • For days, thousands of Jats have been violently protesting in defiance of a curfew. Businesses have lost an estimated three billion dollars as demonstrators torched trucks, buses and trains. And, confronted troops, who reportedly shot at the them.
  • At least 16 people have been killed.