Bharat Bandh: Protests erupt across the country

A number of Dalit organisations on Monday staged a protest as part of the countrywide agitation called by them against the Supreme Court order on the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act banning automatic arrest and registration of cases.

Here’s a glimpse of the protests across the country. 

• ALSO READ: 'Modi is not defending SC/ST Atrocities Act'
• ALSO: Bharat bandh: CBSE postpones exams in Punjab

RAJASTHAN

IMAGE: In Rajasthan's Barmer, cars were burnt and damaged as the protests turned violent. Photograph: @ANI/Twitter

Nearly 30 people were detained as Dalit groups protesting against the Supreme Court order on the SC/ST Act blocked rail and road traffic and vandalised public property, including a train, in several parts of Rajasthan, disrupting normal life in the state.    

Protestors gathered at major roads in the state capital lead to traffic snarls, while incidents of stone pelting and damage to public property were also reported, police said.

Nearly 30 people -- 20 from Ajmer and 10 from Jaipur -- were detained after protestors damaged public property, they said.          

The bandh evoked partial response in the state with several shops remaining closed.           

Protestors damaged glass windows of Shatabdi Express at Khairthal railway station, Khairthal GRP SHO Ramesh Chandra said.           

According to Railways spokesperson, movement of seven trains was affected in North-Western railway region.           

New Delhi-Ajmer Shatabdi Express and Bhiwani-Alwar passenger were  stopped at Khairthal railway station.           

Suratgarh- Jaipur passenger and Allahbad-Jaipur Express were stalled at Alwar railway station, Delhi-Porbandar Express at Rewari, Bandra terminus-Delhi Sarai Gareeb Rath Express at Padisal railway station and Ahmedbad-Srivaishno devi Katra Express was stopped at Bandikui railway station, the spokesperson said.           

Officials at the Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation said that operation of buses was normal till 11 am but movement was stopped after protests escalated, they said. 

BIHAR

IMAGE: Hindustani Awam Morcha-Secular activists stop a train at Rajendra Nagar Terminal during Bharat Bandh against the dilution of provisions for the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe Act, in Patna. Photograph: PTI Photo

Widespread disruptions in rail and road traffic were witness in Bihar owing to the Bharat bandh. Offices were also forced to shut down and property was also vandalised. 

The issue also rocked the state assembly, which was adjourned till lunch break within minutes of commencement of proceedings.

Large-scale protests were witnessed in various parts of the state as part of the Bharat Bandh. 

According to police sources, bandh supporters stormed Patna Junction where they forced closure of ticket booking counters and squatted on railway tracks, disrupting movement of a number of trains. 

In Bhikhna Pahari locality of Patna, students came to blows with bandh supporters when the latter forced closure of numerous coaching institutes located in the area. 

IMAGE: At Forbesganj Junction in Bihar, protesters blocked the railway tracks to protest the dilution of the SC/ST Act. Photograph: @ANI/Twitter

Reports of rail traffic disruption also came from districts like Darbhanga, Gaya, Jehanabad, Begusarai, Bhojpur and Araria. 

Long queues of vehicles, stranded on account of road blockade at various spots, were seen on national and state highways. 

In Darbhanga, bandh supporters stormed the premises of a local court and indulged in vandalism. Glass panes of a showroom were smashed by the agitators in Gopalganj. 

The protests in Purnea were notable on account of large-scale participation of women. 

Bandh supporters also beat up locals in Nawada, vandalised vehicle of a Block Development Officer at Mokama in rural Patna and clashed with the police in Rohtas. 

In most instances, the agitators were seen carrying blue flags bearing the names of Bhim Sena. 

PUNJAB 

IMAGE: Property was burnt and damaged during a protest in Amritsar. Photograph: PTI Photo

Dalits took out a protest march at many places in Punjab to protest the alleged dilution of the SC/ST Act, even as the state government ordered closure of educational institutions, suspended bus services, and curtailed mobile and internet connectivity.           

The protests were also witnessed at Ambala and Rohtak in Haryana as well as in the common capital of Chandigarh. 

Amid tight security arrangements, the Dalits held protests at Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Ropar, Bathinda, Amritsar and Ferozepur in Punjab against the dilution of the Act. 

IMAGE: Shopkeepers sit outside their closed shops during Bharat Bandh in Amritsar. Photograph: PTI Photo

The Congress-led Punjab government had on Sunday ordered a security clampdown as a precautionary measure, while the army and paramilitary forces have been asked to be on standby to prevent any exigency. 

Chief Minister Amarinder Singh had ordered that schools, colleges and other educational institutions would remain shut on Monday, while internet services were suspended from 5 pm on Sunday till 11 pm Monday. 

The CBSE postponed Class 12 and Class 10 examinations scheduled to be held on Monday in Punjab at the request of the state government in view of the ‘Bharat Bandh’.

UTTAR PRADESH

 

IMAGE: Protesters throw stones during Bharat Bandh in Ghaziabad. Photograph: PTI Photo

Protesters torched two buses and pelted stones on vehicles in several parts of Uttar Pradesh during the “Bharat Bandh’ called by Dalit groups against the Supreme Court order on the SC/ST Act.           

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath appealed to the people not to vitiate law and order and asserted that his  government “is serious towards the development and progress of Dalits”.     

IMAGE: Hundreds of protesters block the railway track in Ghaziabad. Photograph: PTI Photo 

Protests turned violent in several districts including Agra, Hapur, Meerut in West UP and Azamgarh . 

In Azamgarh, angry protesters pelted stones on buses on Gorakhpur-Azamgarh highway in Sagdi area damaging their widow panes, police said. 

They also set afire two roadways buses injuring some passengers.  

IMAGE:  A bike set on fire by a group of protesters during Bharat Bandh  in Ghaziabad. Photograph: PTI Photo 

Director General of Police, OP Singh, said the situation is under control in Agra, Sambhal and Hapur and that RPF personnel have been deployed there. 

“We have sought more force from the centre that will be deployed there. We are keeping an eye on the situation, which is under control,” he said.

IMAGE: Police personnel try to disperse the protesters who were trying to block the railway track during Bharat Bandh in Ghaziabad. Photograph: PTI Photo 

Urging people not to resort to violence, Chief Minister Aditynath said, “Both the Centre and the state government are dedicated to the welfare of the backward castes, the scheduled castes and the scheduled tribes. If there is any issue, one can bring them to the notice of the government.” 

MADHYA PRADESH

IMAGE: Protesters block a railway track in Madhya Pradesh's Morena district. Photograph: @ANI/Twitter

Four people were killed and several persons were injured in violence in Madhya Pradesh during the nationwide bandh called by Dalit outfits against the Supreme Court order on the SC/ST Act, prompting authorities to clamp curfew in three districts including Bhind, where the army was called in to control the situation.

A student leader, identified as Rahul Pathak, died in firing in Morena district, Sub-Divisional Magistrate Umesh Shukla said.

WATCH: shots fired during protests in Madhya Pradesh's Gwalior

Pathak was allegedly shot during protests by agitators and he succumbed to injuries enroute to hospital, he said.

As the violence escalated, curfew was imposed in the entire city, Shukla said.

Police said the protesters also stopped a train in Morena.

Curfew was imposed in Gwalior and Bhind districts also following violence, officials said.

WATCH: Protesters resort to stone pelting in Bhind during the Bharat Bandh

Gwalior Commissioner B M Sharma said, "Curfew has been imposed in several parts of Gwalior city following violence during the protest."

Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan appealed to the protesters to maintain peace in the state as the Centre has filed a review petition in the Supreme Court on the issue of dilution of the SC/ST laws.

DELHI

Traffic came to a standstill in Lutyens’ Delhi as hundreds of protesters marched in unity against the dilution of the SC/ST Act. 

The protesters gathered at Mandi House protesting the Supreme Court order banning automatic arrest and registration of cases for alleged harassment of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. 

They blocked road outside the Mandi House Metro Station, bringing traffic to a halt as commuters faced inconvenience while travelling towards ITO and other stretches. 

The protesters also blocked one of the carriageways of Barakhamba Road affecting the traffic on the stretch, police said. 

The city police has also curtailed the traffic movement on Sansad Marg from Patel Chowk to Jantar Mantar. 

ODISHA

IMAGE: Protesters block trains in Odisha. Photograph: @ANI/Twitter

Vehicular movement was affected in several areas including Jharsuguda, Sundargarh, Malkangiri, Sambalpur and other tribal-dominated districts,  police said. Buses also remained off the roads in Biramitrapur, Malkangiri, Kalahandi and Bolangir. 

Shops and business establishments remained shut in several areas of tribal-dominated Malkangiri, Kalahandi, Sundargarh and Balangir districts in response to the ‘Bharat bandh’ call, they said. 

Activists of ‘Adivasi Dalit Sena’ staged a rail roko at Khetrajpur station in Sambalpur which delayed some trains, they said. 

The Adhikar Surakhya Manch, the Adivasi Mulabasi Bancaho Manch and the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha have extended their support to the bandh call. 

In the state capital, activists of different Dalit organisations put up road blockade near Vani Vihar, Jayadev Vihar and Acharya Vihar areas.