Bharat Bandh Violence: 5000 Dalits booked, 32 arrested

New Delhi: As many as 5,000 people have been booked by the Punjab Police for blocking highways and creating disturbance during the Monday’s Bharat Bandh called by Dalit outfits against the alleged dilution in the provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act by the Supreme Court.

Violent protests erupted on Monday in many states including Madhya Pradesh during a nationwide bandh called by Dalit outfits against the Supreme Court’s ruling that allegedly diluted the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. At least nine people have been killed across the country due to violent protests which marred the Bharat Bandh.

Meanwhile, The Supreme Court refused to stay its order on Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes (SC/ST) Act. The court was hearing Central Government’s review petition on Schedule Castes and the Schedule Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.