Bharat Bandh: Child dies as protesters stop ambulance in Bihar's Hajipur

Dalit protesters blocked trains, clashed with police and set fire to vehicles in violent protests across seven states on Monday.

Dalit community members stop a train at Gaya railway station during Bharat Bandh (Representational image - Pic courtesy: PTI)

Hajipur: A child, who was sick, lost his life in Bihar's Hajipur in Vaishali district as the ambulance in which he was being taken to the hospital reportedly got stuck in the middle of the protests against the Supreme Court order diluting the SC/ST Act.

While some states ordered the closure of educational institutions, and curtailed internet and mobile services, incidents of arson, firing and vandalism were reported from Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Punjab, among other states.

In Patna, MLAs from the Opposition parties, as well as some from the ruling side, demanded a resolution be passed by the House urging the Centre to take adequate measures to undo the recent apex court order on arrests under the SC/ST Act.

Protesters stormed the Patna Junction where they forced closure of the ticket booking counters and squatted on railway tracks disrupting the movement of a number of trains.

On the other hand, Dalit protesters blocked trains, clashed with police and set fire to vehicles in violent protests across seven states, leaving at least six people dead and many injured, as per media reports. 

Transport and communications services were severely hit in many states with over 100 trains getting affected due to protests, even as the Centre moved the Supreme Court seeking review of its recent judgement in the matter, maintaining that the verdict will violate constitutional rights of these communities.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has appealed for peace, while Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the government was not a party to the SC decision on the SC/ST Act and 'respectfully' did not agree with its reasoning behind the verdict.

Prasad also said the government has filed a very comprehensive review petition in the matter.

(With PTI inputs)