Numerous caste-based groups and associations across the country and some schools have been closed in the wake of ‘Bharat Bandh’ today on Thursday against the amendment brought to the SC/ST Act.
The protestors have stopped trains in Munger and Darbhanga and a high alert has been issued in around 35 districts of Madhya Pradesh. 34 companies of security forces and 5000 personnel security were deployed and Section 144 was imposed in a number of districts of the state to avert any mishap.
More so, a number of protests were also reported from Uttar Pradesh as well.
Madhya Pradesh Petrol Pump Owners Association president Ajay Singh said yesterday, “We have decided to shut petrol pumps from 10 am to 2 pm tomorrow due to security reasons as some organizations have given a call for bandh”.
The police have beefed up the security across the state in light of the protests that have been ongoing against the amendment Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Makrand Deuskar Inspector General of Police (Intelligence) stated orders prohibiting gathering of people in large numbers have been imposed.
“The administration in most of the districts have clamped prohibitive orders under CrPC section 144 in view of the bandh on September 6,” he said.
Protesters displayed black flags to former Union minister and senior BJP leader Prahlad Patel at Tikamgarh when he was addressing OBC workers of the party.
The protestors shouted slogans outside the venue of the OBC cell of BJP meeting in Gwalior.
After the Supreme Court diluted the provision of mandatory arrests under the SC/ST Act, sparking protests by Dalit organisations, the Union government brought an amendment in the monsoon session of Parliament to override the apex court’s order.
The region of Gwalior-Chambal, which is known to be a sensitive area, had seen a large-scale violence on April 2 this year during the Bharat Bandh called by Dalit groups.
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