Bhopal: The worst outcome of the country-wide protests called by Dalit-organizations was seen in Madhya Pradesh. At least four people died and another six were injured in Madhya Pradesh today with the Dalit groups took to the streets to protest the recent Supreme Court order over SC\ST law, which according to the groups was diluted for of law that has previously ensured their safety. The government authorities had to call army people to contain the situation in Bhind. Curfew was declared in three districts.
Two persons were reportedly dead due to police firing in Gwalior, one in Bhind and another one in adjoining Morena. One among the dead was a local student leader, identified as Rahul Pathak. He was shot dead while there was a clash between protesters and the police in Morena and was declared dead upon arrival to a hospital as per the news agency reports.
And when the violence escalated, the entire town of Morena was placed under prohibitory orders with a ban on gathering of more than three people. Strict curfew was also introduced to contain the spilling situation in adjoining Gwalior and Bhind districts, officials said.
There was a growing demand for a review in the Atrocities Law related to SC/ST and the Dalit lawmakers from the ruling NDA had taken their turn to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently. The recent Supreme Court order, according to the Dalit groups, weakens another crucial law which was to serve the purpose of preventing atrocities against the community. The lawmakers met the Prime Minister to seek a review and expected that the government should file a petition in the court. A delegation which constituted members of Scheduled Castes and Tribes Commission also met the President Ram Nath Kovind to make the same request.
Most Recently, the Apex Court had passed an order which provided certain provisions in the stringent SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The court gave the reason that over certain occasions, the law was subject to misuse many times with the aim of preventing public servants from doing their duty. The Top Court introduced the provision of anticipatory bail and gave order not to arrest the accused automatically under the law.
As per the Dalit groups stance, the court order was such due to the government had not performed its duty by not informing the court about the high rate of atrocities and abysmally very low conviction rate in such cases.
A group of MPs from NDA have already held a meet with Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and BJP chief Amit Shah. A section of dalits are concerned about the case that if issues are not addressed it may turn into a big potential political controversy.
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