Violence erupted in the state of Rajasthan on 23 May 2008 when police fired on protesters belonging to the Gurjar caste who were demanding a Special status under India's reservation system.
They demand scheduled tribe status so that they can qualify for government jobs and state college seats reserved solely for such groups.
Kirori Singh Bhainsla, the head of the main Gurjar protest organisation issued a statement — "We do not accept the economic package.
In the wake of the ongoing Gurjar agitation in neighbouring Rajasthan, high alert had been sounded in the border districts of Madhya Pradesh to check any spread of violence.
Gurjars mainly targeted the Jaipur-Delhi, Jaipur-Agra, and the Mumbai-Delhi transport routes as they believed it would capture the attention of the government and media altogether and resorted to violence when security forces tried to clear the roads and railways.
The news of dead bodies lying without cremation attracted many Gurjars from far off areas and even other states which added to the numbers of agitators who were now beyond the control of the police or the rapid action force and thus the Indian Army was called in.
Fifteen demonstrators died Friday when police fired live ammunition and tear gas to halt rioting, said Singh.
[1] Demonstrators blocked a major highway linking Jaipur to Agra — site of the world-famous Taj Mahal monument — stranding thousands of people.
Six wagons of a goods train on its way to Agra derailed near Bandikui station in Dausa district due to tampering of rail tracks, allegedly by the Gurjars.
[6] The Indian Army, the Rapid Action Force, jawans of the Rajasthan Armed Constabulary, besides the Rajasthan police, carried out patrolling in the troubled districts of Lalshot Bharatpur, Karauli and Dausa as at least a dozen places, including Alwar, Kotputli, and Kekri in Ajmer, Pali and Rayla in Bhilwara observed bandhs (closure or curtailing of city businesses, offices and civilian activity due to security fears).
The government had earlier crushed a protest of farmers demanding water in Tonk district by firing at them and were employing similar tactics when a small mob was about to gather near Patoli village on the first evening of the agitation.
This incident backfired on the government and the agitation intensified as the Gurjars considered the villagers killed in the firing as 'martyrs' and a sense of sympathy and anger spread throughout the state.
"It is shocking that notorious dacoits and goonda elements, wielding arms and ammunition, have joined Kirori Singh Bainsla and are indulging in arson and violence.
Bainsla's rejection of the proposal was unexpected, as he had earlier welcomed Raje's move to recommend in a letter to the Prime Minister four to six percent special reservation for the community.
[9] Congress MP Sachin Pilot, after being denied permission to visit Dausa district to meet agitating Gurjar leaders.
[11] In western districts of UP like Ghaziabad, Baghpat and Gautam Buddha Nagar public transport like train and buses was affected till couple of weeks due to agitation of Gurjar Community.