Bhopal, November 20: The latest set of National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data --  released for the year 2016 -- shows Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan faring worst in atrocities against Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST). The two poll-bound states had witnessed massive protests by Dalit groups, as well as counter-protest by upper-caste groups, in April this year.

Madhya Pradesh, which ranks first in terms of crimes against Dalits and tribals, recorded 6,745 atrocities cases against SCs and STs -- up from 2015 when 4,904 cases were registered. The rankings are based not on the number of cases registered, but the increase in crime rate. Rajasthan, which ranks second in the fray, recorded 6,329 cases of atrocities against the SC/STs. Centre Annuls Changes Made to Atrocities Law With SC/ST Amendment Bill.

In April this year, Dalit groups across India had called a shutdown to protest against a judicial order which "diluted" the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Violence in the protest claimed 12 lives, with the fatalities being recorded in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

Caste-based polarisation intensified in the run-up to the polls, analysts said, crediting the angst among the Dalit youth for the increased weightage of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in the upcoming assembly elections.

In Madhya Pradesh, anti-reservation group - SAPAK (Samanya Pichhda Alpsankhyak Kalyan Samaj) - entered into the polling fray, saying both the Congress and the BJP have failed the non-Dalit, non-OBC groups in the nation. The organisation's founder president Lalit Shastri said they turned disenchanted with both the groups after they colluded to overturn a judicial order which made amendments to Atrocities Act.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 20, 2018 04:48 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).