Protest, Punishment & Pause Amid Aggressive Calls for Bharat Bandh

Protesters call for Bharat Bandh.

(Photo: PTI)

The nationwide call for a Bharat Bandh by Dalit communities protesting the dilution of a provision of the SC/ST Act has caused death and destruction in many parts of the country on Monday, 2 April.

Dalit activists took out simultaneous processions in multiple cities, including Delhi, Ranchi, Meerut, Alwar and Gwalior. The protests turned violent in a number of places as well.

Protestors in Delhi demanding that the Supreme Court ruling be revoked.

Catch all the live updates of the protest here.

Clashes With Cops

The police has tried to actively curb the protestors, resulting in fierce clashes.

An injured policeman in Ghaziabad.

Policemen carrying a man away from a protest site in Varanasi in an attempt to dispel protesters. 

Police fires tear gas in order to dispel protesters in Ranchi.

Transport Disrupted

Roads were blocked through the day, and the Dalit activists even disrupted railway services by sitting on railway tracks. Reports of multiple people losing their lives also came in.

Protestors disrupt railway services in Patna on Monday, 2 April.

Vehicles parked by a road in Meerut were burnt during the course of the day.

Police tries to stop a man from disrupting a bus in Ahmadabad.

Police trying to dispel protesters from railway tracks in Ghaziabad, on Monday, 2 April.

Also Read: Dilution of SC/ST Atrocities Act: What Is the Top Court’s Message?

Solidarity Amid Chaos

Men, and women alike came together in huge numbers. Curfew was imposed in at least three towns in Madhya Pradesh – Morena, Bhind and Gwalior. In Punjab, all schools and colleges remained shut with the CBSE even postponing the board exam scheduled for 2 April.

Women marched in solidarity in Bikaner on 2 April.

Protesters taking part in the Bharat Bandh in Ahmedabad.

Various parts of the country were brought to a standstill.

Man in Amritsar walks up to a shop only to find it shut on Monday, 2 April.