Three weeks after six people were killed in police firing at Peelikheda in Dausa district on the first day of the Gurjjar agitation, another gathering was held at the small village on Tuesday. This time round Gurjjar leaders from other states, in Rajasthan to extend moral and financial support to community members, graced the occasion with their presence.

Under the leadership of Dausa MP Sachin Pilot, representatives of the Gurjjar community from Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab and Uttaranchal came to Peelikheda on Tuesday and handed over cheques of Rs 3.75 lakh to the family members of the 24 Gurjjars who died during the agitation. Using the money raised by community members in other states, they also handed over Rs 25,000 to the seriously injured and Rs 10,000 to those with less severe injuries.

“By providing financial help and specially coming down to hand it over, the Gurjjars of other states want to make it clear to those of Rajasthan that they are with them through thick and thin,” said Pilot.

Last week Pilot had toured 24 villages in five districts which were badly affected during the agitation and voiced his concern over the vindictive attitude of the police. “It is as if the police and the State Government are out to take revenge. It is shameful that in Rajasthan one gets death as punishment for blocking roads or finds his name in police records for crimes he never committed,” the Dausa MP said, claiming that several youths from his constituency had not returned home till date out of fear of being arrested.

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