Chandigarh, Apr 2: Punjab, with 35 per cent population belonging to the Scheduled Caste, witnessed a massive uproar against the Supreme Court's recent ruling which allegedly dilutes the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.

The Bharat Bandh call issued by over a dozen Dalit groups keeps Punjab on the edge as the state government has taken measures to embrace the worst case scenario.

At least four battalions of the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Rapid Action Force (RAF) have been kept on standby, apart from 12,000 additional police personnel pressed into service today to maintain law and order.

Flag marches were conducted in parts of Malwa region on Sunday to dissuade protesters from resorting to violent demonstrations.

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh said his government would allow peaceful protest to be conducted. But violence of any sort will not be tolerated, he stressed, The CM also held a meeting with district-level officers yesterday via a video conference.

What All Remains Shut in Punjab Today:

  • Internet services, which were suspended since 5pm on Sunday, will remain non-functional till 11pm today.

  • The CBSE Class X and XII exams have been postponed, considering the threat posed to students who would had to commute to their examination halls. However, the exams were scheduled to be held as per schedule in the Union Territory of Chandigarh.

  • All schools and colleges in Punjab were ordered to remain shut today. Several corporations, public officers and private establishments are also closed adhering to the bandh call.

  • State-run and private buses will remain off the road across the state. The Punjab government on Sunday said buses affiliated to PunBus, Punjab Roadways and Punjab Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) will not be plying due to the bandh.

  • Trains for local commutation also remain suspended. While highways are functional for private vehicles, the government has recommended citizens to step out only in case of emergency.

  • Special police arrangement has been made to transport the mortal remains of overseas Indian workers who were killed in Iraq's Mosul. Union MoS V K Singh is scheduled to land in Punjab with the dead bodies of 39 Indians -- 27 of whom are from Punjab.

Apart from Punjab, widespread protests were also seen in Bihar, Kerala, Odisha, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

Government had appealed the protesters to retract the bandh as a review petition has been moved in the Supreme Court.

"What is the point of calling a bandh, when the government is proactively addressing the issue? We have moved the Supreme Court and taking all steps towards reversing the amendments made to the Atrocities Act," said Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party chief Ram Vilas Paswan.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 02, 2018 11:58 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).