New Delhi, April 10: The Bharat Bandh call issued by anti-reservation groups has driven the police on alert in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh - the three states which faced the worst brunt of the shutdown called by Dalit groups on April 1.

The bandh called today, although not being supported by any major group, is feared to evoke mass participation as messages across social media platforms were abuzz seeking the maximum turnout of upper-caste anti-quota protesters.

The nationwide shutdown call comes barely eight days after Dalit groups staged massive demonstrations to protest against a recent Supreme Court ruling which allegedly diluted the provisions of SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Monday issued advisories to all states seeking maximum police deployment in vulnerable areas to prevent breakdown of law and order. In order to fix accountability, the MHA order said the district magistrates and superintendent of police will be held directly responsible for any untowards incident in regions under their jurisdiction.

After the MHA guideline, security was beefed in parts of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand. In UP's Hapur, where inter-caste clashes were reported on the April 1 shutdown, internet was suspended since Monday.

Section 144 was imposed in MP's Gwalior, Bhind and Morena, apart from suspension of internet in the three districts. The region had witnessed the worst brunt of the clashes on April 1, which led to the death of 7 people in the state.

Statues of various personalities, especially caste leaders, are guarded since yesterday to prevent any provocation from either sides.

Flag marches was also conducted in parts of Madhya Pradesh to dissuade the protesters. Schools and colleges will remain shut as a precautionary measure.

In Gujarat Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani has warned of a counter-protest on April 14, the birth anniversary of Dr B R Ambedkar, if any agitation targeting the Dalits is staged by upper-caste groups.

Alerts have also been issued in Jharkhand and Punjab, the two states with massive SC/ST population. Apart from ban on dharna or procession, the police are also tracking inflammatory posts on social media.

Although no major organisation has come forward to support the bandh, inputs received from Rajasthan police claim some fringe caste groups, including the Sarv Samaj have appealed members from the Brahmin, Rajput, Jat and Gujjar communities to join the agitation.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 10, 2018 12:30 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).