One person was killed and many others injured in violent protests that erupted across Rajasthan today during a nationwide bandh against the alleged "dilution" of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Protesters, shouting 'Jai Bhim', blocked roads and rail routes, forcibly shut down shops, pelted stones, vandalised public property, torched several vehicles, and even attacked police in several parts of the state.
Police officials said more than 150 people were detained across Rajasthan for alleged involvement in the violence.
Additional Director General of Police (law and order) NRK Reddy said more than 75 civilians and over 70 police personnel were injured in the violence.
In Khairthal of Alwar district, a 28-year-old man, son of a former village sarpanch, was killed and 26 others, including nine policemen, were injured in the violence.
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Officials claimed police resorted to firing after some miscreants in a mob opened fire at them. Some protesters allegedly attempted to torch a police station during which a godown there suffered severe damage.
Protestors also torched a vehicle, officials said.
Tension prevailed in Sikar, Bikaner, Barmer, Bharatpur, Jodhpur, Bhilwara, Hindaun, Gangapur and other areas where police and protestors came face to face. In several instances police personnel had to fire tear gas shells, cane-charge and even fire at the mob to defuse the situation, officials claimed.
Prohibitory orders under section 144 of the CrPC were imposed in Bikaner, Barmer, Sikar, Jalore and Ahore while internet services were suspended in 12 districts as a precautionary measure.
Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje appealed to the people to maintain peace and harmony, saying the central government was committed to securing the rights of SC/STs.
Violence was, however, reported in almost all the districts of the state where protesters damaged public property while the police used force to disperse them.
Rajasthan DGP OP Galhotra said the situation was now under control.
"There is a provision in law to peacefully put forth your views. People should not take law into their hands. Cases will be registered against anti-social elements," he said.
Reddy said an additional 25-30 companies of paramilitary forces were deployed across Rajasthan in view of the protests.
According to the officials of the North-Western Railways, protestors damaged the glass windows of the Shatabdi Express at Khairthal railway station. Movement of at least seven trains was affected in the region due to the protests.
Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation (RSRTC) officials said normal operation of buses, stopped at 11 am after the the protests escalated, resumed by 5 pm.
Several Dalit groups had called for a 'Bharat Bandh' today, demanding restoration of the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act to its original form.
The Supreme Court had, on March 20, "diluted" certain provisions of the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act, in a bid to protect "honest" public servants discharging bona fide duties from being blackmailed with false cases under the Act.
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