English
Bharat Bandh Update: The all-India strike called by the Dalit and Adivasi groups across the nation – including the Reservation Bachao Sangharsh Samiti was observed with varying degrees of intensity across the states. In states of Northern India like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, there were minor instances of violence where police had to do lathi-charge in Patna. Overall, it can be said that the Bharat Bandh had little impact on normal life even in the national capital.
The Bharat Bandh called by some groups against a recent Supreme Court order on reservation for Scheduled Castes (SCs) evoked a mixed response in Rajasthan where markets remained closed and public transport services were partially affected.
In the last 10 days, police officials held multiple meetings at various levels with market and transport associations to ensure the bandh was observed peacefully and law and order situation remained under control, DGP Sahoo said. Many markets across the state remained closed in view of the bandh call.
In Jaipur, the SC ST Sanyukt Sangharsh Samiti held a rally against the August 1 Supreme Court order on the sub-classification of SCs. The rally started from Ram Niwas Garden and passed through different walled markets in the city before culminating at the garden.
The Bihar Police on Wednesday lathi-charged and used water cannons to disperse protesters who put up rail and road blockades in support of Bharat Bandh over community-based reservation.
Protesters disrupted train services at Darbhanga and Buxar railway stations and blocked traffic in Patna, Hajipur, Darbhanga, Jehanabad, and Begusarai districts following which police baton-charged to quell them. In Patna, police chased away crowds who blocked traffic at Dak Bungalow Chowk.
“Security personnel lathicharged to disperse protestors who blocked movement of traffic at Dak Bungalow Chowk and broke police barricades. No one was injured in the incident. The situation is under control now,” Patna SSP Rajeev Mishra told news agency PTI.
In Jehanabad district, clashes occurred between protesters and security personnel on National Highway-83 near Unta Chowk, leading to the detention of five persons.
The Bharat Bandh had little impact on normal life in Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday, even as Dalit groups and political parties held demonstrations and marches in parts of the state.
Shops were open and it was business as usual in large parts of the state. Security was tightened in view of the day-long bandh called by some Dalit and Adivasi groups against a recent Supreme Court order on reservation for Scheduled Castes (SCs). Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Samajwadi Party (SP) extended their support to the bandh.
(With inputs from agencies)
