Bharat Bandh: Protestors take to the streets in Delhi, clog major roads

Traffic was forced onto arterial roads with motorists complaining of delays of up to one hour.

New Delhi: Protestors demonstrating against the dilution of the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act following a Supreme Court order in Delhi took to the streets on Monday - clogging major roads during peak morning rush hours.

Dalit groups began their protests from Mandi House and walked all the way to Jantar Mantar. Armed with flags and banners, the large number of participants took over the roads, bringing traffic to near-standstill. Several areas of central Delhi was affected as traffic congestion soon spilled over to arterial roads. The situation on the ground went from bad to worse as office hours kicked in with many motorists complaining of being stuck in traffic for up to an hour. 

Traffic Alert
Motorists going towards Kalindi Kunj from Gazipur, Dallupura and DND are advice to avoid the stretch due to demonstration. Traffic has been diverted from Vasundhara Enclave. — Delhi Traffic Police (@dtptraffic) April 2, 2018

Traffic Alert

Obstruction in traffic on Khajoori Chowk due to demonstration. Kindly avoid the stretch. — Delhi Traffic Police (@dtptraffic) April 2, 2018

Massive protests have been witnessed in other parts of the country as well. While stone-pelting incidents and damage to public property was reported from UP's Agra and Meerut, shops were vandalised in Jaipur and long-distance trains were brought to a halt in several parts of Bihar. CBSE exams in Punjab had to be put off while one person was shot dead in Madhya Pradesh's Morena.