The call for a second Bharat Bandh, only a week after the one held by Dalit groups against the alleged dilution of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act by the Supreme Court, has affected a few of Bihar and UP, amid stringent security measures. The protests on April 2 had turned violent and led to loss of atleast nine lives. This time around the Ministry of Home Affairs issued an advisory to all the states on Monday to take necessary precautionary measures. The Advisory said that District Magistrates and Superintendents of Police would be personally responsible for ensuring that law and order situation remains firmly under control in the areas of their jurisdiction.
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Today’s Bandh has been called to protest against reservations in education and jobs . Separate security alerts have also been issued in a number of states, particularly in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, where mob had turned violent April 2.
In Uttar Pradesh’s Firozabad schools have been asked to remain shut and internet has been suspended. Sec 144 has been implemented in Jaipur and internet services will remain suspended in the city from 12 midnight on Monday till Tuesday night. In Bhopal too Section 144 has been imposed in several cities and Gwalior, Bhind and Morena are deemed to be the sensitive areas.