4 killed as Dalit protests turn violent in India

International Desk: Dalit organisations across the country have called a 'Bharat bandh' on Monday to protest a recent Supreme Court ruling "diluting" the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.

The protests left four people dead in Madhya Pradesh's Morena and Gwalior, where a curfew was later imposed. The Modi government on Monday filed a review petition on the Supreme Court judgment on the SC/ST Act. Protests turned violent in Rajasthan's Barmer, with cars and property being damaged. Similar reports emerged from Meerut. Visuals from Bharat Bandh protests in Gwalior showed shots being fired during the protests, news agency ANI reported.

Nineteen people were on Monday injured in Gwalior. Of them, two were said to be in a critical condition, news agency ANI reported. Further, internet service has been blocked in Gwalior district till 6:00 am tomorrow.

Speaking on the Bharat Bandh protests, Union Minister Ramvilas Paswan today told news agencies that one can understand if the people are protesting, but why is the "Opposition playing politics". Paswan said that parties like the Congress, which did not give the Bharat Ratna to B R Ambedkar, are now acting like his followers.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh appealed to all political parties and groups to maintain peace and shun violence. Informing that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government has filed a review petition in the Supreme Court for reconsidering the verdict on the Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) Protection Act, he urged the protesters on Monday to refrain from imposing blockades and committing violent acts.

Talking to the media, Rajnath said, "We have filed the review petition in Supreme Court. I appeal to all political parties and groups to maintain peace and not incite violence."

The Opposition has been pressing the Centre to file a review petition against the apex court's recent ruling that allegedly diluted the provisions for immediate arrest of government servants under the SC/ST Act.

On March 20, the apex court, in a bid to check misuse of the SC/ST Act, ruled that a government official cannot be prosecuted on a mere allegation of committing an offence under the Act without the sanction of the appointing authority. It also ruled that a preliminary enquiry in a case under the Atrocities Act would be done by the Deputy Superintendent of Police to ensure the allegations are not frivolous, and to avoid the false implication of an innocent.

The Bharat bandh has already brought Punjab to a standstill, as CBSE has postponed the board exams scheduled for April 2, and transport services have been suspended. The Supreme Court, meanwhile, will later in the day hear a review petition filed on the matter by the government. The Centre is likely to tell the apex court that dilution of the Act will render it ineffective and prevent the dispensing of justice to the marginalised Dalit and tribal communities.

Source: Agencies


risingbd/Dhaka/April 2, 2018/AI