As Gurjjar protests in Rajasthan entered its sixth day, the Vasundhara Raje Government had an embarrassment in store over an arrest made about 200 km away from the state capital.

In Bhilwara district, 33-year-old Devalal Gurjjar was put under preventive arrest under Section 151 of the CrPC to “maintain peace and law and order”. He was among six persons arrested for “inciting violence among the Gurjjar community” in Bhilwara. He is the son of Kalulal Gurjjar, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister in the Raje Government. Devalal was arrested while addressing a gathering in Gudla village on Wednesday, where his wife is a sarpanch. He was later released on a bond of Rs 2 lakh.

Bhilwara district has the largest Gurjjar population in the state and has the biggest temple of the community in Asind village. However, the district has so far been unaffected by the ongoing agitation. Interestingly, Devalal’s active interest in Gurjjar politics is well-known in Bhilwara. The district SP says he was active in last year’s agitations too, but for some reason could not be detained. “Last year, he even exhorted his father to resign from the Raje Cabinet and join the Gurjjar agitation,” a police official said. While Devalal could not be contacted, Kalulal Gurjjar too was not available for comments.

In Bayana and Sikandara, the agitators continued their protests even as state Government officials surveyed the area in helicopters. They held a meeting in Bayana to evolve strategies to tackle the agitation. In the state capital, Raje met ministers and senior BJP leaders on the issue.