Bharat Bandh: Protests by Dalit organisations turn violent in various parts of the country

Six people were killed in Madhya Pradesh and one each in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh as Dalit groups clashed with the police to protest a Supreme Court order which allegedly dilutes a law protecting their rights.

The violence in Gwalior district, Bhind, Morena and Sagar towns occurred when Dalit groups were taking part in 'Bharat bandh' to protest the court's March 20 interpretation of The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989.

The Supreme Court on March 20 had banned automatic arrests and registration of criminal cases under the Scheduled Castes (SC) and the Scheduled Tribes (ST) Prevention of Atrocities Act, 1989, a legislation meant to protect the marginalised communities from abuse and discrimination.