The decision of the Delhi Police was taken in view of the violence during the first round of agitation in and around Mukherjee Nagar and Najafgarh areas. Now prohibitory orders were imposed in the southwest, northwest and southeast Delhi.

The protesters have said this time they will not block highways or railway lines and stay away from cities. However, they have warned of intensifying the agitation if their demands are not met.

Over 7,000 troops of central security forces are helping the Haryana police patrol highways, railway tracks, important government offices and public places. The districts on high alert include Rohtak, Jhajjar, Sonipat, Jind, Bhiwani, Hisar, Fatehabad, Panipat and Kaithal.

The call for the renewed agitation has been given by the All-India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti. But some sections of the Jat community and its leadership have distanced themselves from the agitation call.

The Munak canal that supplies most of Delhi's water is being guarded by central troops. It was taken over by protestors for three days in February, leaving Delhi without water till the army retook control.

A 24-hour helpline (0172-2740390) has been set up in Chandigarh. Mobile internet and bulk SMSes have been banned in Sonepat and Rohtak.

Prohibitory orders banning large groups from gathering have been enforced in sensitive areas in Jhajjar, Sonepat, Rohtak, Panipat, Hisar, Fatehabad, Jind and Kaithal districts - and also near National Highways and railway lines.

In February, the Jat agitation had paralysed the state for nearly a week. Shops and malls were set on fire, transport was cut off, and according to some estimates, business worth $5 billion was lost.

Last month, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar of the BJP led the effort to clear a new law that includes the caste as a beneficiary of affirmative action policies. But the Punjab and Haryana High Court has put the law on hold because it busts a prescribed cap of 50% on quotas.