Protests against apex court order on SC/ST Act

A number of dalit organisations today staged a protest in the national capital today as part of the countrywide agitation called by them against the Supreme Court order on the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act banning automatic arrest and registration of cases.

The protesters, who were demanding that the provisions related to immediate arrest be restored, gathered at Mandi House and blocked the road outside the metro station there, bringing traffic to a halt and inconveniencing commuters travelling towards ITO and other stretches.

Heavy police force was deployed at Mandi House in view of the protests.

Shouting slogans of 'Jai Bhim', the protesters also blocked one of the carriageways of Barakhamba Road affecting traffic on the stretch, police said.

A number of Dalit organisations have called for a Bharat Bandh today to protest against the Supreme Court order claiming that it has created a feeling of insecurity among the members of the marginalised communities and that getting justice will be even more difficult now.

They said the Centre had announced that it will be filing a review petition only after they called for a bandh demanding that the law that protects the scheduled castes and tribes against discrimination and atrocities be restored in its original form.

Police have also closed the traffic movement on Sansad Marg from Patel Chowk to Jantar Mantar.