Bharath Bandh: 4 Killed in MP, 1 in UP And Rajasthan

Bhopal: Violence erupted in Madhya Pradesh's Gwalior and Chambal districts on Monday during protests by Dalits over a Supreme Court order, leaving three persons dead and many injured, official sources said.

Curfew was imposed in many parts of the state even as Internet services were withdrawn. Chambal Inspector General of Police Santosh Singh told IANS: One person each was killed in Morena and Bhind, though the cause of their deaths are not known so far." Two persons were killed in Gwalior during a clash between two groups. The IGP said that curfew has been imposed in five localities of Bhind and Morena and authorities are keeping an eye on the situation.

Gwalior Collector Rahul Jain said that at least 22 persons have been injured in violence, though doctors treating them have not confirmed any deaths due to violence. Police said that following violence in Gwalior, areas falling under the police stations of Thatipur, Gola ka Mandir and Murar were put under curfew and Internet services stopped. The state's major cities like Bhopal and Indore witnessed violence, with trains stopped at many places. Policemen were among those injured at various places. In state capital Bhopal, a large number of protesters rallied at the Board Office crossroad, following which police lathi-charged to disperse the mob but failed.

Protesters also stopped trains at several places in the state, officials said. Earlier, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan appealed for calm following the violence. "The Union government has filed a review petition in the Supreme Court. Our government is committed to protect the rights of the Scheduled Castes and Tribes. People should maintain peace," Chouhan said. The protests are part of a 'Bharat bandh' called by Dalit organisations against a Supreme Court March 20 order that diluted The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. (IANS)

1 dead, 26 injured in Rajasthan

Jaipur: One person was killed and 26 others, including nine policemen, were injured today in Khairthal in Rajasthan's Alwar district during Dalit protests against the Supreme Court order on the SC/ST Act, officials said.

The 28-year-old deceased was identified as, Pawan Jatav, son of a former sarpanch. The body has been kept in mortuary for post-mortem, principal medical officer of Alwar district hospital, Dr Bhagwan Sahay said.

Eighteen others injured were undergoing treatment at the hospital, including one policemen, Sahay said. Khairthal police station SHO, Jitendra Kumar said that the police resorted to firing after a mob attacked and opened fire on them, while torching a vehicle and a store in the police station. He said that nine policemen, including one deputy superintendent of police, one head constable, and six constables were injured in stone-pelting. (PTI)

One Killed In UP During Bandh By Dalit Groups

Lucknow: One person was killed and nearly 75 persons including 40 policemen were injured in violent protests today in Uttar Pradesh during the countrywide bandh called by Dalit groups on SC/ST Act issue, while 448 people were detained on various charges including arson and damage to public property, police said.

"During the bandh, violence broke out in Muzaffarnagar, Hapur, Meerut, Agra and they were the most affected. Reports of violence have come from some other districts too. As of now, 448 persons have been detained from different districts. There were no incidents in 90 per cent of districts. We have sounded a high-alert in the state," DIG, Law and Order Praveen Kumar told reporters.

When asked about casualties during violence, the DIG said, "One person died during violence in Muzaffarnagar. We are yet to get the detailed reports. As of now about 35-40 policemen and 30-35 protestors were stated to be injured. Of them three are serious." (PTI)