Bharat Bandh: 10 killed in Dalit protests against SC verdict over SC/ST Act; Mayawati's BSP leader 'main conspirator' of the violence
The Dalit community on Monday has called for the Bharat Bandh protesting against the 'dilution' of SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The violence hits life in several parts of the country following which the death tolls of people died in the violence to 10, living hundred injured. A student leader along with four other killed during the violence between the police and protesters in Gwalior on Monday.
The protesters blocked the trains, buses route and several public properties were set on the blaze, including the police posts. According to Report in Business Standard, schools will remain shut in Uttar Pradesh's (UP's) Agra, Hapur, and Ghaziabad over the bandh. Whether schools and colleges in other states and cities, too, will stay closed is not clear yet.
The Narendra Modi-led government moved to the top court seeking to review the judgement on the SC/ST Act. However, the Sc rejected the plea on urgent hearing on a writ petition filed by the All India Federation of SC/ST Organisations against the verdict.
The Dalit group's protests went violent and took precious lives in Uttar Pradesh Meerut, in which two persons died and 75 people were brutally injured. The Uttar Pradesh police blamed the former lawmaker belonging to the Mayawati's BSP, the state's Dalit powerhouse. Mayawati has shown her support for the protests against the SC verdict over SC/ ST Act. Verma was one of the 200 people detained in the violence. He has several police cases, including that of an attempt to murder, assault and rioting against him.
The BSP's former legislator, Yogesh Verma, who represented Meerut's Hastinapur in the state assembly, has been held by police. He is the "main conspirator" of the violence, news agency ANI quoted Manzil Saini, a senior police officer from Meerut, as saying.
In the Dalit's protests, Meerut was one of the key towns that witnessed violence that hit five states on Monday, as Dalits blocked the streets and other public places. "More than 200 people have been detained and we are getting cases registered against them under National Security Act," ANI quoted Mr Saini as saying.
Yogesh Verma's former boss, Ms Mayawati, had said while her Bahujan Samaj Party is no longer in parliament, "our politics outside will force the Narendra Modi government to buckle under... Our party will not sit quietly if their (Dalit) voices are not heard."
