3 killed, curfew in Madhya Pardesh, Protesters set bus on fire in UP; rail traffic disrupted across India
WEB DESK
Bharat Bandh called by several Dalit organisations over the alleged “dilution” of SCs/STs (Prevention of Atrocities) Act turned violent in many parts of India today. Normal life badly affected in several parts of India as protesters blocked rail and road traffic and resorted to violence and arson in Rajasthan, Odisha, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana along with national capital.
#BharatBandh @AmbedkarCaravan @DalitLiveMatter @DalitCamera
Updates coming up……Massive protest against @narendramodi @NitishKumar @deepakmishra pic.twitter.com/7Z1FlrL97d
— Vivek Anand (@Vivekstate) April 2, 2018
In Madhya Pradesh, a man died during clashes between the police and protesters in Morena. In Gwalior, prohibitory orders banning large gatherings were imposed as protesters blocked railway tracks and set fire to vehicles. Clashes and arson were reported from cities in Rajasthan, including Jaipur, Barmer and Alwar. In Jharkhand capital Ranchi, the police lathicharged protesters.
In Uttar Pradesh, Meerut saw widespread arson and clashes between police and protesters. In Hapur, blocked the highway Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has appealed for calm, saying the Central and the state governments were are “dedicated towards the welfare of backward castes, SC & ST”.
Train services were hit in parts of Bihar, Odisha, Punjab and Rajasthan as protesters blocked railway tracks. In some areas, highways were blocked too.
#BharatBandh: SC/ST एक्ट में संशोधन के खिलाफ लाठी-डंडों के साथ मुजफ्फरनगर में दलितों का प्रदर्शन, रेलव स्टेशन समेत कई सार्वजनिक स्थलों पर हंगामा #SCSTAct [Courtesy DNHindi] pic.twitter.com/UHFvy3CWkX
— Bahujan4India (@Bahujan4India) April 2, 2018
In Punjab, hundreds of protesters carrying swords, sticks, baseball bats and flags forced shops to shut in Jalandhar, Amritsar and Bathinda. Traffic in and around Chandigarh was hit as protesters blocked highways and arterial roads.
The Punjab government has taken extensive security measures that include shutting of schools and colleges, postponing Board exams and suspending mobile internet services till 11 pm. Banks and offices are shut and transport is off the roads. Security has been stepped up in towns like Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Nawanshahr and Hoshiarpur, which have the highest Dalit population.
