Bharat Bandh: Centre assures help to affected states, Rajnath Singh says 'don't fall for false propaganda'

After Bharat Bandh called by Dalit groups turned violent, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday said the Centre is ready to provide assistance to all states to maintain law and order.

"The Government of India has advised all states to maintain law and order and we are ready to provide assistance to any state that may require so," Singh said in a series of tweets on Twitter.

Singh also urged all political parties to help ensure harmony among different sections of the society and not instigate any violence in the states.

"I appeal to all political parties to help in maintaining harmony among different sections of the society. I also appeal to the people, not to fall prey to rumours and false propaganda unleashed by mischievous elements," Singh said.

Singh said that the government is committed to ensuring protection and welfare of the SC/STs and other weaker sections and they have already filed a review petition in the Supreme Court today. 

"The Govt. of India is committed to ensuring welfare of SC/STs and other weaker sections and also guaranteeing them full protection of law. The Govt has already filed a review petition in the Supreme Court to maintain the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act in its presents form," Singh said.

"I am deeply pained by the acts of violence and loss of precious lives in some parts of the country today during protests in context of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Prevention of Atrocities Act," he said.

At least five people - four from Madhya Pradesh and one from Rajasthan - were killed after protests turned violent between Dalit groups and cops.

One person was killed and many injured as the protests went violent in Rajasthan’s Alwar due to ongoing Bharat Bandh on Monday.

After violent protests, the Alwar administration has imposed Section 144 in the area. The Indian Army had to be called in to control the situation.

In Uttar Pradesh, about 40 persons, including over a dozen police personnel were injured in clashes. Five persons, including four Dalit young men, sustained bullet injuries in firing between agitated mob and police in Meerut and Hapur districts. 

Besides two police outposts, over 100 buses, private vehicles, two-wheelers were torched by the agitated mob. About 448 trouble-makers, including a former BSP MLA, were arrested in connection with the violence during Bharat Bandh.

A shopkeeper was shot at in Hapur district when he refused to down the shutter. Police had to open fire to disperse a mob of Dalit youth firing indiscriminately on streets in Meerut district. The mob also damaged the official vehicle of the SSP and District Magistrate after setting Shobhapur police outpost on fire in Kankarkheda area in the district.

Earlier, Dalit organisations called for a nationwide bandh to protest the alleged dilution of SC\ST Act. While most protests were peaceful, accompanied with rail rokos across the state, some morchas such as the one in Uttar Pradesh's Meerut and Jharkhand's capital city Ranchi turned violent.