In Rajasthan, a mob of nearly 5,000 people burnt down the houses of a sitting and a former MLA – both Dalits – in Hindaun town, Karauli district.
Tension continued in some states, a day after the Dalit protests triggered violent clashes in North India, with the death toll rising to 11 with two more deaths were reported on Tuesday in Madhya Pradesh, and the homes of Dalit politicians were set on fire in Rajasthan.
A group of citizens protesting the loot and arson caused by the Monday's violence, clashed with the police in Rajasthan, and the matter escalated to tear gas shelling and firing of rubber bullets. A school also had to be evacuated.
In Madhya Pradesh, six columns of the Army were put on standby on Tuesday following the violence. Curfew was still in force in some areas of Gwalior, Bhind and Morena districts.
In Rajasthan, a mob of nearly 5,000 people burnt down the houses of a sitting and a former MLA – both Dalits – in Hindaun town, Karauli district.
A curfew was imposed in the area after the incident that took place in the afternoon. The homes belong to sitting BJP MLA Rajkumari Jatav and former Congress legislator Bharosilal Jatav, who has also served as a minister of state.
Several cities across the state observed bandh by traders to protest the loot and arson they were subjected to during the bandh. These include Kolayat, Neem ka thana, Ramoli, Khetri, Churu, Bharatpur, Bhusawar and Jalore. Internet services remained suspended in Sikar, karauli, Bikaner, Dhaulpur, Sawai Madhopur, Bharatpur and Dungarpur.
According to Rajasthan DGP OP Galhotra "Police has taken out a flag march in places that experienced violence on Monday. According to the cops, 172 cases have been registered and around 1,000 people have been arrested in connection with the violence.
Matters came to a head when local residents, under the banner of Sarv Samaj (all communities), ignoring the curfew, came out on roads to protest the violence and loot that took place on Monday.
The group clashed with the police, and the latter resorted to lathi charge and tear gas shelling. They also fired rubber bullets. Tear gas shells also fell in a school, after which over two dozen students fell ill and had to be rushed to the hospital.
The police have booked two cops in connection with the death of a person in police firing. On Monday the police claimed that the casualties occurred during clashes between the supporters of the 'Bharat bandh', called by Dalit outfits, and those opposed to it and not due to police firing. Bhind Superintendent of Police (SP) Prashant Khare admitted on Tuesday that 40-year-old Mahavir Rajawat was killed in police firing.
Things returned to normal in western Uttar Pradesh, where about half a dozen districts witnessed large-scale violence. Two people, including a 19-year-old Dalit youth, were killed and over 100 were injured in violent clashes on Monday.
Delhi remained peaceful.
The Opposition targetted the NDA government, with Congress president Rahul Gandhi asking why Prime Minister Narendra Modi was silent on the issue. "Rohit Vemula has been murdered. Dalits are beaten up in Una (Gujarat), but the Prime Minister does not speak a word on it. Atrocities on Dalits and tribals are increasing and the SC/ST act has been diluted. Modi prefers not to speak a word," he said at an election rally in Karnataka.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Bhim Sena and Samajwadi Party-PTI")
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}