Bharat Bandh: Protestors block road outside Asarwa Civil Hospital

A group of around 150 protestors gathered outside Asarwa Civil Hospital on Monday and blocked the road stopping traffic movement in the area. The incident took place around 4 pm. As many as 15 people were detained in connection with the incident. Several Dalit organisations had called a country-wide bandh on Monday to protest against the alleged dilution of the SC/ST Act.

The protestors burnt tyres and wood blocking the road to stop transport services. They attacked GSRTC and AMTS buses, stopped ambulances and school buses. The angry mob threated passengers and asked them to refrain from using public transport in view of the strike. Ankit singh, a 23-year-old student, was returning home from RTO when he came across the protestors. "It was really scary since all the protestors were very aggressive and were stopping not just public transport but private vehicles as well. I finally found a diversion and then went the other way and avoided it," he told DNA.

The protests continued till 4:30 pm, after which Shahibaug police officials rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control. They chased away the protestors from the venue and restored traffic movement. Ashok kumar Yadav, Additional CP (Sector 2), said: "Altogether 15 people have been detained. There will be a proper investigation into the issue. Footage from CCTVs in the area and videos recorded by witnesses will be taken into consideration."