Bharat Bandh: 6 cops injured, train stopped in UP

Six policemen were injured and protesters stopped a train in Uttar Pradesh during a 'Bharat Bandh' called by upper-caste groups, but life remained largely normal across the state.

The bandh was called to protest against the recent amendments to the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act by the Parliament to overturn a Supreme Court judgment.

Reports from districts across the state said life was by-and-large normal despite the bandh call, officials said here.

However, in Kanpur, protesters stopped an intercity train at Panki railway station, but fled as soon as the GRP and RPF reached the spot, inspector S N Pandey said.

Heavy force was deployed in the Gorakhpur, where protesters blocked the Gorakhpur-Varansi national highway for three hours, hitting traffic movement.

In Sonbhadra district, the bandh had a good response, with minor incidents between the protestors and shopkeepers being reported from some places. About 50 protesters were taken into custody after a clash in Robertsganj town, in which a young girl had suffered minor burns, said Sub-Divisional Magistrate Sadab Alam.

Protesters burnt the effigy of the government in Kushinagar, whereas students protested at Sant Vinoba Bhave Degree College in Deoria and submitted a memorandum at the district magistrate's office.

In Etah, protesters gheraoed the home of Jalesar MLA Sanjeev Diwakar, who had to call the police. "I was with the people of my constituency when members of the 'Savarna Samaj', especially those belonging to Awagarh town, raised slogans and misbehaved with locals," the BJP leader said.

In Ballia, bandh supporters had a heated argument with another BJP MLA, Anand Swarup Shukla from Ballia Sadar, who refused to back them. Superintendent of Police Sriparna Ganguly said some people resorted to brick-batting in which six policemen were injured.

BJP MLA from Bairia, Surendra Singh, came out openly in support of the bandh. "Upper-caste people made me the MLA and not Muslims and Dalits. I am ready to sacrifice for the upper caste. If my upper-caste supporters ask me I can also resign (from my seat) for their sake," he said.

Normal life was also hit in Agra, where shops in main markets remained shut and agitators in several parts of the city blocked traffic.

Commenting on the strike, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said, "It (Bharat Bandh call) has no meaning. People have their feelings. In a democracy everyone has the right to express themselves."