4 Killed in clashes in MP, Violence reported from several states during Bharat bandh

Four people were killed in Madhya Pradesh on Monday during ‘Bharat Bandh’ called by various Dalit organistaions to protest the alleged dilution of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989.

While one person died during clashes in Morena, two protesters were killed and eighteen others injured in police firing in Gwalior. Another death was reported from Bhind district. As the protests escalated, internet services were suspended by the district administration in Gwalior, Morena and Bhind.

Violent protests were reported from other states too.

The Supreme Court on March 20 had banned automatic arrests and registration of criminal cases under the Scheduled Castes (SC) and the Scheduled Tribes (ST) Prevention of Atrocities Act, 1989, a legislation meant to protect the marginalised communities from abuse and discrimination.

A bench of Justices AK Goel and UU Lalit ruled that no arrests can be made under the act without prior permission. It also held that a court can grant a pre-bail arrest (anticipatory bail) if it, prima facie, finds the complaint is an abuse of the law, false, motivated and intended to blackmail or harass a person.

Here are the live updates:

2:26pm: Internet services suspended by the district administration in Gwalior, Morena and Bhind due to violence.

2:13pm: Mahavir Kushwah, a resident of Machhand in Bhind district, died during clashes in Madhya Pradesh’s Bhind district. Death toll in Madhya Pradesh has now reached four.

2:00pm: Incidents of vandalism were reported from various parts of Gujarat. In Saurashtra, pockets of Bhavnagar, Amreli and Gir Somanth districts saw violent protests by mob.

In Rajkot city, protesters vandalised a mobile phone company’s showroom and forced the management to shut down Crystal Mall.

Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation bus was vandalised at Vanthali in Junagadh district.

1:50pm: In Delhi, protesters blocked Janpath intersection near Connaught Place. Protesters also blocked road outside the Mandi House Metro Station, bringing traffic to a halt as commuters faced inconvenience while travelling towards ITO and other stretches. Police has also curtailed the traffic movement on Sansad Marg from Patel Chowk to Jantar Mantar.

In Faridabad, two cops were injured as mob resorted to stone pelting.

1.46 pm: Two protesters were killed in police firing in Gwalior during Dalit demonstrations against the Supreme Court’s ruling on the SCs/STs act. Eighteen people were injured. Parts of Gwalior are under curfew. Earlier, one person was killed and 12 others injured in clashes in Morena town of the state.

1:30pm: Delhi Police is alert. We have adequate police deployment at places and senior officials are also present on the field. All steps will be taken to maintain law and order: Deependra Pathak, spokesperson, Delhi Police on Bharat Bandh

1:18pm: Chhatisgarh Express was stopped by protesters by uprooting a railway track in MP’s Morena. Heavy police force has been deployed at a platform of the Morena railway station.

1:16pm: As protests turn violent, two companies of RAF in Meerut and one company in Hapur are being deputed.

1:14pm: We salute brothers and sisters from the Dalit community who have hit the streets to demand protection of their rights from the Modi government, tweets Congress president Rahul Gandhi

1:04pm: One can understand if people protest, but why is opposition playing politics? Parties like Congress who did not give Bharat Ratna to BR Ambedkar are now acting like his followers: Union minister Ramvilas Paswan

12.40pm: We have filed the review petition in Supreme Court. I appeal to all political parties & groups to maintain peace and not incite violence: Union home minister Rajnath Singh told ANI news.

12.30pm: Three people, including two policemen, injured as police resort to lathi charge in Ajmer, Rajasthan. Police say the protestors attacked first with stones. 

12.25pm: One person was killed and 12 others injured in clashes in Morena (MP), curfew imposed, reports ANI News.

12:14pm: In Hapur and Meerut (UP), thousands of protesters are out on streets. Hundreds of vehicles are stranded on NH58 as the protesters have blocked roads and vandalised vehicles.

12:10pm: Several people, including a journalist, have been injured in clashes in Morena and Bhind and Gwalior.

12:08pm: In Mumbai, the bandh evoked a lukewarm response. Though Prakash Ambedkar’s Bahujan Bharipa Mahasangh (BBM) has supported the bandh, its workers were not spotted participating in it actively in the morning.

11:53am: In Alwar, five people were injured after a shopkeeper opened fire at protesters. Thousands of Dalit protesters have picketed Alwar government hospital and are demanding arrest of the man who opened fire at them.

11:46am: The central and state govts are dedicated towards the welfare of backward castes, SC and ST. I appeal to all to not disturb the law and order: UP CM Yogi Adityanath

11:35am: I wish to convey that today we’ve filed a petition on the judgement by Supreme Court on the SC/ST act. We have filed a comprehensive review petition which will be presented before the court by the senior lawyers of the government: Ravi Shankar Prasad, Union law minister

11:34am: News agency ANI reports several people have been injured in Ranchi after a clash between protesters and police.

11:20am:In Meerut, protesters torched Shobhapur police post and vandalised a car and motorcycle.

11:09am: Protests turn violent in Barmer, cars and property damaged, reports news agency ANI

11:05am: In Kapurthala’s Subhanpur, protesters blocked the Jalandhar-Amritsar National Highway. Protestors also blocked panda bypass in Hoshiarpur.

10.50am: Bihar: With posters, banners and flags, supporters of the Bhim Army and other Dalit organidations, halted over a dozen long-distance trains, and as a result, passengers were stranded at Patna, Gaya, Jehanabad, Bhagalpur, Ara, Darbhanga, Araria, Nalanda and Hajipur railway stations.

10.45am: At some places in Bihar,the protesters have also blocked national and state highways.

10:30am: In Kerala, all offices, banks and business establishments will remain closed. State buses have also suspended their services.

10:20am: Protests are being staged in Agra and Bharatpur too. Protesters also stopped a train in Patiala in Punjab, reports news agency ANI.

9.34am: Shops, educational institutions and other establishments remained closed in Jalandhar and Amritsar.

9:28am: Protesters stopped a train at Forbesganj junction in Bihar

8.30am: Movement of train in Odisha’s Sambalpur blocked by protesters against Supreme Court’s decision on SC/ST Protection Act, reports ANI news.

8.15am: Mobile internet services in Punjab were suspended from 5 pm on Sunday till Monday evening in a bid to check rumour-mongering on the social media.

8am: The CBSE has postponed class 12 and class 10 examinations scheduled to be held on Monday in Punjab at the request of the state government.