Punjab, having the highest population of the Scheduled Caste community with 35 percent, is on high alert in the wake of ‘Bharat Bandh’ call for April 2 — given by several Dalit organisations to protest against the alleged “dilution” of SCs/STs (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
From the closure of educational institutions to banks, suspension of transport services to mobile services for a day, the Punjab Government has ordered a security clampdown across the state as a precautionary measure. It has also put the army and para-military forces on standby to deal with any contingency.
The orders came after the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh reviewed the security arrangements with top police and administrative officials on Sunday evening. The review was followed by a video conference by the Chief Secretary with the Deputy Commissioners and other senior officials of all the districts.
As many as four battalions of rapid action force (RAF) and four of Birder Security Force (BSF), along with 12,000 additional police personnel will remain on duty for Monday to maintain law and order which have been taken out from Punjab Armed Police, Police Headquarters’ and other wings of the state police besides para-military forces.
Chief Minister had also directed the police to crack down against anyone found trying to disrupt the peace and harmony in the state.
In view of the Monday’s bandh call, Punjab Government has announced that all educational institutions — schools, colleges, universities — will remain close.
According to an order issued by the DPI (Colleges), all the educational institutions, including the government colleges, government aided colleges, private colleges, state and private universities, will remain closed on April 2, 2018, as a precautionary measure, in view of the bandh call given by some organizations.
Likewise, all the government, non-government or private aided, aided and recognized schools would also remain close on Monday.
Punjab Education Board (PSEB) has also cancelled its exams, but the CBSE and ICS exams will be conducted as per schedule. PSEB has postponed the practical examination scheduled for April 2, and the final practical examinations of Class X and XII will now be held on April 11, as per the directives issued by the Education Department.
The message in this regard has been sent to all the district education officers from the PSEB secretary Hargunjit Kaur.
The government has also announced bank holiday on April 2, 2018, under Negotiable Instrument Act, 1881, said an official spokesperson adding that notification in this regard has been issued.
The government has also circulated a notice saying that they were suspending public transport services across the state as a precautionary measure on Monday. “During bandh, the PRTC, Punjab Roadways and PunBus buses would not ply on roads and the services of these buses would remain suspended,” read the official statement.
“Besides, all mobile internet, SMS and dongle services will be suspended in Punjab. Only voice calls will work,” said the state secretary (home affairs) Rahul Tewari.
“Mobile Internet services (2G/3G/4G/CDMA), all SMS services and all dongle services etc, provided on mobile networks except voice calls in the territorial jurisdiction of the state of Punjab, would be suspended from 5 pm on April 1, 2018, to 11 pm on April 2,” he added.
Tewari said that the order to suspend mobile internet services has been taken to prevent spread of misinformation, rumours, through social media platforms and to prevent any disturbance of peace and public order in Punjab.
Meanwhile, the Department of Home Affairs, Justice and Jails has issued a notification, in pursuance of the provisions of the sub clause 1, 2 and 3 of clause 6 of the Punjab Jail manual, the Punjab Government, authorizing all the District Magistrates in the state to declare any place to be a Special Jail under the Punjab Jail Manual in view of the bandh call.
The District Magistrate shall, while using this authorization, ensure compliance of all provisions of the Prisons Act 1894 and Jail Manual Punjab through Superintendent of Jail of their respective District, read the orders.
It added, necessary arrangements would be made by the District Magistrates in consultation with the concerned Departments as well as the Superintendents of Jail within their District.
The government has also appointed Special Executive Magistrates for the maintenance of law and order, up to April 3, 2018, in their respective districts under section 21 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).
CM’S APPEAL
Issuing strict orders to police and security forces to deal with any attempt to disturb the peace and harmony in the State with an iron hand, the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder reiterated his appeal to the organisations not to obstruct transport movement in the state or cause any harassment to commuters.
He urged the protestors not to take the law in their own hands and, in particular, not to impede transport movement in any way.
“With Punjab a key route for transportation of essential provisions to the armed forces at the borders, any disruption on the highways could seriously hamper the supply of the necessary supplies,” he said.
Capt Amarinder also appealed to the protestors to ensure that mortal remains of Iraq victims, that are expected to arrive in Amritsar on Monday, are allowed to be transported to their native villages without any impediment.
He also directed the Punjab Police to provide strict security for the same along the routes, from the airport to the respective native villages of the victims.
Noting that the Central Government had already announced its decision to file a review petition against the Supreme Court verdict, the Chief Minister said that the SC/ST community should defer its protest till the final decision on the petition comes.
Only a day before, Capt Amarinder had also appealed to maintain peace requesting the members of the SC community to keep restraint and maintain law and order in the larger public interest.
CONG ANNOUNCES SUPPORT
Punjab Congress on Sunday announced to support the protest call for April 2 given by dalit organisations against the amendment in SC/ST Act.
The state party chief Sunil Jakhar would lead a party delegation, comprising of MLAs and the state Cabinet Ministers, to meet the Governor to submit a memorandum demanding that a review petition should be filed immediately in the recent verdict by the Apex Court on “diluting” the provisions of SC/ST Act.
At the same time, the party’s Ludhiana MP Ravneet Singh Bittu declared that the workers would actively participate in the protest. He also appealed to the people to maintain peace during the protest.
“We are against any kind of dilution of the provision of SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. We respect the Constitution which has given equal rights to all the communities,” he said while urging the organizations who had called for a protest to carry out protest in a peaceful manner and all Congress MLAs, leaders and workers would take part in the protest.
He said that elaborate security arrangements have been made in the district to maintain law and order and no one would be allowed to take the law into their hands.
THE ISSUE
Several Dalit organisations have called for a countrywide shutdown on Monday to protest the Supreme Court’s March 20 verdict that protects public servants from arbitrary arrests under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
The verdict is seen as diluting the Act, and sparked fears that it would lead to increased discrimination against the already marginalised scheduled castes and scheduled tribes.
The Central Government has already approved approaching the Supreme Court for a review of its order.