UP: One killed, over 70 injured as Dalit protests turn violent

One person was killed and around 75 others, including 40 policemen, were injured in violent protests in several parts of the Uttar Pradesh today as Dalit groups demonstrated against what they alleged was the "dilution" of the provisions of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

As many as 448 people were arrested for allegedly being involved in vandalism, arson or on other charges while a high alert was sounded across the state's 75 districts.

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

One person died during the violence in Muzaffar Nagar, he added.

"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," the DIG added.

Asked about the extent of damage to public properties, the official said the police were yet to do a detailed analysis.

"Some anti-social elements were involved in the protests and they created problems. Some of them had illicit fire arms too. We are conducting a detailed probe and also trying to identify people involved in spreading rumours and misleading Dalits on the SC order," he said.

The situation was controlled by 2 pm and is normal now, he said.

Early in the day, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath appealed to the people to maintain law and order and asserted that his government was "serious towards the development and progress of Dalits".

However, angry protesters pelted stones on buses in the Sagdi area of Azamgarh on the Gorakhpur-Azamgarh damaging their widow panes.

They also set afire two roadways buses injuring some passengers, police said.

Director General of Police (DGP) OP Singh said additional force from the Centre.

"We have sought more force from the Centre...We are keeping an eye on the situation, which is under control," he claimed.

Urging people not to resort to violence, Chief Minister Aditynath said, "Both the Centre and the state government are dedicated to the welfare of the backward castes, the scheduled castes and the scheduled tribes. If there is any issue, one can bring them to the notice of the government."
This was necessary, the court had said, to prevent the "rampant misuse of the tough provisions of the law."