Bharat Bandh against SC/ST Amendment Act, Sec 144 imposed in MP: Updates

High alert has been issued in 35 districts across Madhya Pradesh in view of the ongoing Bharat Bandh against the Parliament passing an amendment to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act that overruled Supreme Court's earlier order of diluting it. Apart from that, 34 companies of security forces and 5,000 security personnel have been deployed. Section 144 has also imposed in several districts across Madhya Pradesh, according to ANI reports.

Police told ANI, ”Forces have been divided judiciously across the districts. It has been peaceful till now. Nobody can force anyone to be a part of the bandh.”

Earlier, the members, belonging to upper caste groups, had forced the government to impose Section 144 in Satna, Bhind, Shivpuri, Gwalior, and other districts.

Bharat Bandh: Clashes in Bihar, section 144 imposed in Bhopal; top updates

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued an advisory to all states to take necessary precautionary measures in the view of Bandh called for Tuesday. A week after Dalit groups across the country held a nationwide protest against the alleged dilution of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act by the Supreme Court, which witnessed massive violence in different parts of the country leading to the death of nine people, a Bharat Bandh against caste-based reservation in education and jobs has been called today. According to security sources, calls for an anti-quota bandh started circulating on social media after Dalit protests last week. "We are holding meetings with community liaison groups and traders. Nobody will be allowed to take the law into their hands," he added.

Top 10 developments on Bharat Bandh called by Dalit outfits today

1. Schools to remain shut today in Uttar Pradesh's Firozabad: Schools for students of Class I to IX will remain closed today, as a precautionary measure, in the wake of Bharat Bandh called on Tuesday. According to media reports, a shutdown has been called by some groups for April 10, who are reportedly against caste-based reservations in jobs and education.

2. MHA asks states to tighten security: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), in its advisory said, "MHA has advised the states to beef up security and make appropriate arrangements to prevent any untoward incident, including issue of prohibitory orders, if necessary. It has asked for intensification of patrolling in all sensitive locations so as to prevent any loss of life or damage to property."
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Bharat Bandh protest: 4 killed in MP's Gwalior, Morena; top 10 developments

Dalit organisations across the country have called a 'Bharat bandh' on Monday to protest a recent Supreme Court ruling "diluting" the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. The protests left four people dead in Madhya Pradesh's Morena and Gwalior, where a curfew was later imposed. The Modi government on Monday filed a review petition on the Supreme Court judgment on the SC/ST Act. Protests turned violent in Rajasthan's Barmer, with cars and property being damaged. Similar reports emerged from Meerut. Visuals from Bharat Bandh protests in Gwalior showed shots being fired during the protests, news agency ANI reported.

Nineteen people were on Monday injured in Gwalior. Of them, two were said to be in a critical condition, news agency ANI reported. Further, internet service has been blocked in Gwalior district till 6:00 am tomorrow.

Speaking on the Bharat Bandh protests, Union Minister Ramvilas Paswan today told news agencies that one can understand if the people are protesting, but why is the "Opposition playing politics". Paswan said that parties like the Congress, which did not give the Bharat Ratna to B R Ambedkar, are now acting like his followers.