Chandigarh/New Delhi, Apr 2: Dalit outfits across the nation have called a Bharat Bandh to oppose the 'dilution' of the SC/ST (Atrocities) Act, 1989. The situation remains grim in Punjab, where 35 per cent of the population belong to the Scheduled Caste category.

The Punjab government clamped down the internet services on Sunday evening, which are expected to remain non-functional till 11 pm today. Four battalions of the Rapid Action Force and the Border Security Force (BSF) have been kept on standby. Nearly 12,000 additional police personnel have been pressed into service, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh said.

All schools and colleges will also remain shut in Punjab today. The state-run bus services will not be functional, whereas, private operators have also been instructed by the government to not to ply their vehicles.

Special security arrangement has been made to ensure the mortal remains of overseas Indian workers, who were killed in Iraq, could be sent safely to their villages. Union MoS V K Singh is scheduled to land in Amritsar today with the dead bodies of 39 Indians -- 27 of whom are from Punjab.

Apart from Punjab, security has also been beefed up in Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra, where Dalit groups have planned to hit the streets to oppose the amendment to the SC/ST Act.

The outfits which have lended support to the Bharat Bandh include: Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh, the Communist Party of India. the Peasants and Workers Party, the Janata Dal, and  the Left-backed Centre of Indian Trade Unions.

Among other groups with nationwide cadre supporting the bandh include: the National Dalit Movement for Justice, the Jati Aant Sangharsh Samiti, the Sanvidhan Samvardhan Samiti and the Rashtriya Seva Dal.

The protesters have demanded the roll-back of the changes ordered by the Supreme Court to the SC/ST Act.

The apex court bench, in its order of March 20, said the FIR could be registered under the Atrocities Act only after an inquiry by a police official. If the complaint is filed against a government employee, he could be booked only after nod from the appointing authority. The court also said those accused under the law could seek anticipatory bail.

The Centre on Thursday announced it would file a petition seeking review of the SC order. According to reports, the review plea could be submitted before the top court today.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 02, 2018 09:02 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).