BHARAT Bandh: Violent Incidents Reported From Bihar

BHARAT Bandh observed on Tuesday against reservation of jobs and educational facilities on the basis of castes, sparked off some violent incidents  in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan . “No group has come forward to say they are organising a call for a bandh. These messages are doing the rounds in social media,” NDTV quoted Jaipur police chief Sanjay Agrawal. “We are holding meetings with community liaison groups and traders. Nobody will be allowed to take the law into their hands,” he added. In some places, internet services have been suspended .Over a dozen of people were injured in Bihar during the “Bharat Bandh” called by various groups to protest against reservation policies, news channels say quoting police said. Supporters, mostly upper castes youths, blocked roads and forcibly enforced the nationwide shutdown in Ara town, Bhojpur district in the eastern state. There were clashes between supporters of the Bharat Bandh and a pro-reservation group comprising OBCs and Dalits,” a district police official said. Additional security was deployed in Ara.Hundreds of youths opposing reservation supporting Bharat Bandh, have blocked roads at several places, halted trains and forcibly closed markets in Patna, Begusarai, Lakhisarai, Muzafffarpur, Bhojpur, Sheikhpura and Darbhanga districts.The Union Home Ministry has  issued an advisory to all states to take precautionary measures in view of calls on social media for the “Bharat Bandh” by various anti-reservation groups to protest clashes during the April 2 SC/ST shutdown. The Bharat Bandh on April 2 by Dalit groups against the alleged dilution of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act by a Supreme Court order  triggered violence and arson claiming several lives and left hundreds of civilians and policemen injured. The Government and the Supreme Court  of India have made it clear that the act has not been diluted.SC has clarified that it has only intends to ensure that no innocent person is  victimized under the act. Section 144 has been imposed in Bhopal. About 6,000 police personnel are deployed to ward off any violence.  Schools remained open. Police has been instructed to keep a tab on social media, action will be taken against rumour-mongers” said Bhopal Commissioner Ajatshatru Shrivastava. The district administrations of Gwalior, Bhind and Morena have suspended internet connectivity to control rumour mongering. The Rajasthan government has notified district administrations to be vigilant. In Alwar, patrolling by security forces has been stepped up in sensitive areas to maintain law and order in the city. Section 144 has also been imposed in Jaipur. (Image courtesy : Financial Express)