인도 북서부에서 지방 정부와 소수계 구자르 지역사회와의 교착상태가 2주째로 접어들고 있는 가운데, 인도 경찰이 돌을 던지며 항의한 시위대에 발포해 2명이 사망했다고 인도 당국이 밝혔습니다.
라자스탄 주 당국은 도로봉쇄를 풀고 있던 경찰에 약 2백 명의 시위자들이 돌을 던지는 과정에서 이번 사태가 발생했다고 밝혔습니다.
시위자들은 인도의 하층민들에게 일반적으로 주어지는 일자리 배당을 비롯한 특별 혜택을 요구하고 있으나 정부당국은 이를 거부하고 있습니다.
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Officials in northwestern India say police have fired on stone-throwing protesters, killing two, as the deadlock between the government and the ethnic Gujjar community enters its second week.
Officials from Rajasthan state say police were trying to reopen a road today (Friday) when a group of about 200 demonstrators began to pelt them with stones.
About 43 people have been killed since last Friday, when members of the Gujjar community began protests in Rajasthan state. Protesters are demanding special benefits, including job quotas, normally reserved for lower caste Hindus under an affirmative action program.
Gujjar leader, Kirori Singh Bainsala, says the latest protests have been sparked by the government's refusal to meet their demand.
Thousands of Gujjar protesters blocked key highways and railway lines in the country's capital Thursday, bringing traffic in New Delhi to a standstill.