Bharat Bandh Over SC/ST Amendment: Protests Turn Violent in Bihar; MP CM Appeals For Peace

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Demonstrators took to streets on Thursday morning, buring tyres and effigies and stopping trains, forcing locals to stay indoors during the ongoing Bharat Bandh on Thursday morning. Reports of violence emerged from parts of Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Bandh is also being observed in Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Maharashtra.

The bandh has been called by 35 outfits linked to the upper caste communities protest against the recent amendment to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Security has been beefed up and prohibitory orders have been imposed under Section 144 in sensitive areas.

Section 144 imposed in all districts of MP. Internet services stopped in few districts. Schools and colleges are closed. Petrol pumps to remain closed till 4 pm. Over 6000 security personnel deployed across state.