SC/ST Act: Section 144 imposed in several districts in Madhya Pradesh ahead of Bharat Bhandh call on September 6

Ahead of protest call on September 6 as Bharat Bandh against the amendments in the SC/ST Act in Madhya Pradesh, the security has been biffed-up across the state. After witnessing a call for Bharat Bandh from some organisations against the SC/ST Amendment Bill passed in the Parliament last month, Section 144 has been imposed in 5 districts of the state including capital Bhopal.

The administration has imposed prohibitive orders under CrPC in districts- Morena, Shivpuri and Bhind, all three in Gwalior-Chambal region, as well as in Ashok Nagar district in view of the proposed bandh. As per the report, it has forced the government to impose Section 144 in Sagar, Riva, Chhatarpur and other districts also.

Bhind District Collector Ashish Gupta was quoted as saying in a press note,"In view of proposed Bharat Bandh on September 6, the prohibitive orders under CrPC section 144 have been imposed in the district." "It is necessary to impose section 144 this time as the law and order situation in the district was disturbed on April 2 this year when some organisations had given the call of 'Bharat bandh'," he said.

However, Gawlior-Chambal region is known as one of the sensitive areas, that has witness violence on large scale on April 2 this year during the 'Bharat bandh' called by Dalit groups. Makrand Deuskar, Inspector General of Police (Intelligence) told reporters today, "Police headquarters have alerted all the superintendents of police in view of proposed bandh on September 6."

As per reports in IndiaToday, 150 organisations of upper castes and OBCs would participate in the Bharat bandh against the amendments in SC/ST Act, Brahma Samagam Sawarna Jankalyan Sangathan's national president Dharmendra Sharma said.