Bharat Bandh largely peaceful except for minor hiccups; top 10 developments
A nationwide anti-quota bandh call, given largely through social media, turned out to be a damp squib on Tuesday with virtually no impact on the ground amid heavy security arrangements.Shops remained closed in some parts of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan for a few hours and internet services were restricted in sensitive areas to check "rumourmongering", but normal life remained largely unaffected, officials said.The Centre had on Monday advised all the states to beef up security in order to prevent any untoward incident during the "Bharat bandh". However, 127 people were arrested and dozens injured in protests against reservations in Bihar.A week after Dalit groups across the country held a nationwide protest against the alleged dilution of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act by the Supreme Court, which witnessed massive violence in different parts of the country leading to the death of nine people, a Bharat Bandh against caste-based reservation in education and jobs had been called on Tuesday.
Here are top 10 developments on today's Bharat bandh: 1. No impact of Bharat Bandh in Uttar Pradesh, says police-"There was no report of any untoward incident from any part of the state and life was normal," Deputy Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) Praveen Kumar told reporters at the Home department's briefing in Lucknow. 2. Curfew in Madhya Pradesh towns-Bhind and Morena towns in Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday remained curfew bound amid a Bharat Bandh called by groups demanding a rollback of caste-based reservation, officials said. 3. 127 protestors arrested, over a dozen injured in Bihar-A total of 127 people has been arrested by the police in Bihar for protesting against caste-based reservations in jobs and education.Over a dozen of people were injured on Tuesday in a violent clash in Bihar during the "Bharat Bandh" called by various groups to protest against reservation policies, police said. 4. Police defuse tension in Punjab town-Tension prevailed in Punjab's industrial town of Phagwara on Tuesday as two groups came face to face during the one-day Bharat Bandh (shutdown protest), but police intervened and defused the situation. 5. 30 CRPF companies sent to states-The central government has sent 30 companies of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) -- the country's largest paramilitary force -- to various states to maintain law and order during the "Bharat Bandh". 6. Schools shut, internet services suspended-Schools remained shut for Classes 1- 10 today in Uttar Pradesh schools. Internet services were suspended in Jaipur and Bhopal 7. Section 144 to be imposed in Bhopal:Section 144 has been imposed in Bhopal today in the wake of Bharat Bandh. Around 6000 police personnel will be deployed in order to ward off any violence or untoward incidents. 8. Supreme Court declines urgent hearing on a plea seeking review of the verdict on SC/ST Act:The Supreme Court on Monday declined an urgent hearing on a plea which sought a stay and review of its recent verdict on SC/ST Act by which certain safeguards were put in place on the automatic arrest of individuals. 9. Nine killed across the states amid Bharat Bandh on April 2:Nine people have died across the states amid the Bharat Bandh protests raging across the nation. 10. Supreme Court dilutes SC/ST Act:On March 20, the Supreme Court ruled that there was no absolute bar on granting an anticipatory bail under the Act.
ARTICLE SOURCE- BUSINESS STANDARD.