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Bharat Bandh: After MHA advisory, security up in Rajasthan, other states

In the wake of the shutdown call by some groups on 10 April against caste-based reservation in jobs and education,…

Bharat Bandh: After MHA advisory, security up in Rajasthan, other states

Representational image (Photo: Getty Images)

In the wake of the shutdown call by some groups on 10 April against caste-based reservation in jobs and education, the Union Ministry of  Home Affairs has advised all states to strengthen security and check any possible violence.

“The Home Ministry has advised states to raise security and make appropriate arrangements, including prohibitory orders if necessary, to prevent any untoward incident,” said an official.

Elaborate security arrangements have been put in place in Rajasthan ahead of the country-wide shutdown believed to be called by groups opposed to caste-based reservations, a senior police official said on Monday.

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Other than Rajasthan, security have also been stepped up in states like Uttar Pradesh, MP and Punjab.

The ‘Bharat bandh’ call has been made on social media only and no organisation here has so far come forward to support it, the official said.

Prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC have been imposed in Jaipur city. Mobile internet service has also been blocked for 24 hours in Jaipur from Mondaynight as a precautionary measure, the official said.

“For the last four-five days, police have held meetings with all the main organisations, market associations, transport organisations, political organisations and other groups in all the districts asking them to maintain law and order,” Additional Director General of Police, Law and Order, NRK Reddy told PTI.

“Meetings have held with all such organisations from police station level to the level of SP and collector in all the districts but no organisation has so far come in support of the bandh call.

“This is running on social media with no ownership and no responsibility but it has been made clear that strict action will be taken if anyone tried to disrupt peace,” he said.

With no ownership and no responsibility, it is likely that anyone can come and disturb peace so we have to ensure that strict action is taken against all such elements be it any caste association or any community association, he said.

Additional policemen and battalions of RAC have been provided to various district. BSF and CRPF battalions are also being deployed as per requirements of districts, he added.

In the wake of IPL match to be organised in the city on Thursday, adequate police have also been deployed in and around SMS Stadium.

The agitation on Tuesday is to protest the violence and arson in many parts of the state during the Bharat Bandh called on April 2 by Dalit groups against the alleged dilution of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act by a Supreme Court order.

(With inputs from agencies)

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