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Chandigarh, April 2
Dalits took out a protest march at many places in Punjab on Monday to protest against the alleged dilution of the SC/ST Act, even as the state government ordered closure of educational institutes, suspended bus services, and curtailed mobile and internet connectivity.
The protests were also witnessed at Ambala and Rohtak in Haryana as well as in Chandigarh.
Amid tight security arrangements, the Dalits held protests at Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Ropar, Bathinda, Amritsar and Ferozepur in Punjab against the “dilution” of the Act.
The Supreme Court had on March 20 diluted certain provisions of the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act, in a bid to protect ‘honest’ public servants discharging bona fide duties from being blackmailed with false cases under the Act.
The verdict is being widely criticised by the Dalits and the Opposition who claim that the dilution of the Act will lead to more discrimination and crime against the backward community.
The Congress-led Punjab government had on Sunday ordered a security clampdown as a precautionary measure, while the Army and paramilitary forces have been asked to be on standby to prevent any exigency.
Chief Minister Amarinder Singh had ordered that schools, colleges and other educational institutes would remain shut on Monday, while the Internet services were suspended from 5 pm on Sunday till 11 pm on Monday.
CBSE postpones exams
Meanwhile, the CBSE postponed Class 12 and Class 10 examinations scheduled to be held on Monday in Punjab at the request of the state government in view of the Bharat Bandh.
“Taking cognisance of the letter of the director general (school education), the CBSE decided to postpone all Class 12 and 10 examinations scheduled for April 2 in Punjab,” it said in a statement issued on Sunday night.
“Exams will carry on as per schedule in UT of Chandigarh and rest of the country,” it said.
In a later development, the education department said the final practical examinations of Classes 10 and 12 of the Punjab School Education Board will be conducted on April 11 instead of April 2.
Train services hit
Phagwara: Road and rail traffic remained badly affected in the region due to the demonstrations during Bharat Bandh call on Monday. Railway sources said 74951/74954 Jalandhar-Jejon train, 2411 Chandigarh-Amritsar Train, 4506 Nangal Dam-Amritsar train, 2013 Delhi-Amritsar Shatawadi Express train, 2241 Chandigarh-Amritsar train,14650 Amritsar-Jainagar Shaheed Express train, 4505 Amritsar-Nangal Dam, 2412 Amritsar-Chandigarh Express Train were cancelled on Monday.
Sources added that Amritsar-bound 13049 UP Howrah Express train was stranded at Phagwara Railway Station, 12497 Shan-e-Punjab Express was terminated at Khanna,12029 Shatawadi Express was cancelled between Ludhiana and Amritsar, 18109 Tata Express was sent via Pathankot, 12920 Malwa Express held up in Ambala Division, 12925 Pashchim Express at Shahbad Markanda, 11057 Safer Express held up at Kila Raipur, Janayak Express, Jansewa Express, Akal Takht Express near Ambala, while 2715 Sachkhand Express was stranded near Agra, Haridwar-bound Janshatawadi Express train was stranded near Kartarpur. All trains are stranded till filing of this report.
Transport takes a hit
Public and private transport remained off the road.
“Buses run by the Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC), Punjab Roadways, PunBus, and private operators will remain off the road during the bandh. Banks, too, will remain closed,” an official spokesperson said.
The orders were issued after the Chief Minister reviewed the security arrangements with top police and administration officials on Sunday evening.
Chief Minister makes appeal
The chief minister appealed to the protesters not to take law into their own hands, obstruct transport movement or harass commuters.
He also appealed to them that the mortal remains of the 38 Indians killed in Iraq which were expected to arrive in Amritsar on Monday, be allowed to be transported to their native villages without any impediment.
As part of the elaborate security measures, four battalions each of the Rapid Action Force and the Border Security Force, and 12,000 additional police personnel would remain on duty to maintain law and order, an official spokesperson said.
