Dalit protests hit normal life in parts of Jharkhand

Normal life was disrupted in parts of Jharkhand today as several Dalit organisations joined the countrywide agitation against the Supreme Court's recent order on the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

The apex court had, last month, diluted the provisions of immediate arrests under the SC/ST Act.

Majority of shops downed their shutters, anticipating violence. In Palasboni area, on the outskirts of Jamshedpur, a truck carrying miscellaneous goods was set ablaze allegedly by protesters early today, the police said.

As many as 652 protesters were rounded up from various parts of the Steel City, said Sudhir Kumar, deputy superintendent of police, composite control room (CCR).

Train services, however, remained unaffected by the bandh in the Tatanagar section of Chakradharpur division, railway sources said.

The situation was no different in Palamu district, where around 200 bandh supporters were taken into custody, a senior police officer said.

"The bandh supporters were taken into custody as they were forcibly trying to down shutters of shops," Deputy Superintendent of Police Prem Nath said.

Barring sporadic incidents, no case of violence was reported from the area, said Vipul Shukla, deputy inspector-general, Palamu Range.

In Dumka and Pakur districts, too, the police detained a large number of protesters when they were allegedly trying to enforce bandh on thoroughfares and markets areas, said station in-charge of Dumka town, Devbrat Poddar.