Death toll from Gujjar protests reaches 37

Jaipur: The death toll from deadly riots in Gujjar rose to 37 on Sunday from three days of bloody demonstrations over caste classification.

Police and protesters clashed on Friday and Saturday in various villages and towns in the western Rajasthan state.

The Gujjars want to reclassify their caste to a lower level, allowing them to qualify for government jobs and university places reserved for such groups.

The government has refused but has offered to negotiate with Gujjars.

At least 70 injured people were hospitalised in Jaipur, the state capital, and the town of Dosa.

Army, police and paramilitary forces patrolled villages to control the violence.