Officials said mobile internet services have been blocked in Jhajjar and Rohtak in the Jat heartland which saw violence on Thursday when protesters clashed and pelted stones on police trying to evict them after imposition of prohibitory orders in four districts.

They said the move was aimed at preventing spread of rumours which could add fuel to the already tense situation. The agitation also spread to northern Haryana districts of Kurukshetra and Yamunanagar.

Two lawyers were injured and two motorcycles were set afire in a clash between members of the Punjabi community and lawyers supporting Jat protesters outside the Rohtak district court. The district administration has declared holiday in all educational institutions of Rohtak till February 21.

The agitation by Jats has crippled life despite the state government assuring them to include them in quota for economically backward persons (EBP) of general castes and also increasing the EBP quota from 10% to 20%.Agriculture minister Om Prakash Dhankar said after the Cabinet meeting that supply of essential commodities such as cooking gas and petrol has been affected.

“Our fuel trucks have not reached us for the past four days and soon we will be out of stock. It will add to the woes of the people,” said an employee of a fuel pump on Delhi road in Rohtak.