Bharat Bandh in Rajasthan: Violent protests in Jaipur, Barmer, Jaisalmer, Bharatpur

JAIPUR: The Bharat Bandh protests turned violent on Monday after demonstrators clashed with law enforcement agencies across the state. Reports of lathicharge emerged from Jaipur, Bharatpur, while and in Barmer police resorted to use of tear gas shells. The bandh was called over Supreme Court's verdict on Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

In Barmer, cars and property were damaged during the protests. Demonstrators gathered around Chouhan Chowk and created a ruckus. In the classes, police personnel were injured leading to the use of tear gas to dispel the mob.

#BharatBandh over SC/ST protection act: Protest turns violent in Barmer, cars and property damaged. #Rajasthan pic.twitter.com/gZ0rtMSeg5 — ANI (@ANI) April 2, 2018

Meanwhile, in Jaipur, protesters stopped a train:

#BharatBandh over SC/ST protection act: Protesters stop a train in Jaipur #Rajasthan pic.twitter.com/37FKjlQf3o

— ANI (@ANI) April 2, 2018

In Bharatpur, women and children – armed with lathis – came out to block the roads.

#BharatBandh over SC/ST protection act: Visuals of protest from Rajasthan's Bharatpur pic.twitter.com/m3C8nBqXvW — ANI (@ANI) April 2, 2018

Reports of violence and clashes emerged from across the state. In Jaisalmer, shops and marketplaces remained closed.

The Bharat Bandh was called against the Supreme Court's order to dilute the stringent provisions mandating immediate arrest under the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities (POA) Act. These protesting groups say the order will clamp down on their rights and will be used against them. They, as well as many social commentators, fear that instances reporting crimes against SCs and STs will also come down as a result of the modification.

 

With agency inputs