4 killed as Dalit protests turn violent in MP

The Dalit protests today turned violent in Madhya Pradesh, leaving four persons dead and several people, including a sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) and policemen, injured, officials said.

In the wake of the large-scale violence, curfew was imposed in three districts of Gwalior, Morena and Bhind, they added.

In Bhind district, the Rapid Action Force (RAF) was pressed into service to control the violent situation witnessed during the "Bharat bandh" called by Dalit outfits against the alleged dilution of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Incidents of stone-pelting, arson and loot were reported from several parts of the state, Inspector General of Police (law and order) Makrand Deoskar told PTI.

 

"Two persons were killed in Gwalior, while one each died in Bhind and Morena districts in the violence," he said.

The four persons were killed in cross-firing between those supporting the bandh and those opposing it, the IG added.

Those killed in Gwalior were identified as Rakesh Jatav and Deepak Jatav, he said.

An SDM and a police official were also injured during the protests in the Gwalior-Chambal division, Deoskar added.

A student leader, identified as Rahul Pathak, died in firing in Morena district, SDM Umesh Shukla told PTI.

Pathak was allegedly shot by the agitators and he succumbed to the injuries while being taken to a hospital, he said.

As the violence escalated, curfew was imposed in the entire city of Morena, the SDM added.

The protesters also stopped a train -- the Chhattisgarh Express -- at Morena for a few hours, the police said.

Curfew was also imposed in Gwalior and Bhind districts following violence, officials said.

In Bhind, the specialised anti-riot force, RAF, was pressed into service to control the situation, Deoskar said.

Earlier, Bhind Superintendent of Police (SP) Prashant Khare had said the Army was also called out, but the IG clarified that it was the RAF which was pressed into service.

Reports of violence between the supporters of the bandh and those opposing it were received from Balaghat, Sagar and Datia districts, where prohibitory orders under section 144, CrPC were clamped, Deoskar said.

Gwalior Commissioner B M Sharma said, "Curfew has been imposed in several parts of Gwalior city, following violence during the protests."

Tahtipur, Gola Ka Mandir, Hazira and Morar police station areas in Gwalior were brought under the ambit of the curfew, a senior official said.

Curfew was also clamped in Bhind city and the Mehgaon, Lahar, Gohad and Machand areas of the district, the Bhind SP said.

A man, identified as Mahavir Singh (32), died in firing in Bhind district, while two others suffered serious injuries and were referred to a hospital in Gwalior, Bhind's Chief Medical and Health Officer J P S Kushwaha said.

In Jhabua, the protesters looted shops during the agitation, triggering tension in the tribal town, eyewitnesses said.

However, Jhabua SP Mahesh Chandra Jain said no incident of robbery took place during the protests, adding that the situation was peaceful in the district.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan appealed to the protesters to maintain peace as the Centre had filed a review petition in the Supreme Court on its recent ruling as regards the SC/ST Act.

Protests were also held in state capital Bhopal with agitators blocking a road at the Board Office Square, near the statue of Dalit icon B R Ambedkar.

A large number of vehicles were damaged, several of them torched by the protesters, eyewitnesses said.

The Supreme Court had, on March 20, diluted certain provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, in a bid to protect "honest" public servants discharging bona fide duties from being blackmailed with false cases under the Act.

The verdict is being widely criticised by Dalits and the Opposition, who claim that the dilution of the Act will lead to more discrimination and crimes against the backward community.