Bharat Bandh Today: Internet Services Suspended in Madhya Pradesh, UP and Rajasthan, Security Beefed up
Security has been beefed up particularly in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, from where the deaths were reported on April 2.
New Delhi, April 10: The Union Home Ministry on Monday issued a nationwide advisory to ensure that adequate security measures have been taken to prevent any violence during the anti-quota bandh. Bharat Bandh has been called against caste-based reservation in education and jobs.
Security has been beefed up particularly in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, from where the deaths were reported on April 2. As per reports, a clash between two groups in Bihar's Arrah took place during protests against caste-based reservations. Gunshots were also heard at the spot.
In Rajasthan, the government has suspended mobile internet service in Jaipur and Alwar from 10 pm Monday to 10 pm Tuesday and prohibitory orders under Section 144 have been imposed, said Prafulla Kumar, ACP (crime). Meanwhile, Police said that prohibitory orders, banning large gatherings, will also be imposed across the state. As per ANI report, no impact of Bharat Bandh calls seen as yet in Meerut. In Madhya Pradesh, curfew has been imposed in Bhind and Morena. In Uttar Pradesh, internet services have been suspended in Saharanpur since midnight.
Morena Collector Bhaskar Lakshakar was quoted in reports saying that about 4,683 licences have been suspended till May 15, after which the suspension will be revoked. He informed that followers of BR Ambedkar and Parshuram have told the administration they will not be taking out rallies on April 14 and April 18, respectively.
According to reports, police in Odisha, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu said they have not received reports of any call for a bandh. The Bharat Bandh on April 2 was called by Dalit groups opposing the alleged dilution of SC/ST (prevention of atrocities) Act by a Supreme Court order.
The protest today is being reportedly called by people opposed to caste-based reservations in jobs and education among various other demands. During the protest in the last week, six people died in Madhya Pradesh while two were killed in Uttar Pradesh and one in Rajasthan.
Millions of Dalits took to the streets in the last week to protest what they believed was a dilution of laws meant to protect them from atrocities by upper castes. In the wake of IPL match to be organised in the city on Thursday, adequate police have also been deployed in and around SMS Stadium.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 10, 2018 11:19 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).