Mob sets afire houses of sitting and former Dalit MLAs in Rajasthan.
A day after nationwide stir, nonDalit groups target Dalit slums in Rajasthan and set fire to BJP, Cong MLAs’ houses, prompting authorities to impose curfew, suspend internet
JAIPUR: Non-Dalit groups targeted Dalit slums on Tuesday in apparent retaliation to protesters going on a rampage in eastern Rajasthan’s Hindaun town during the Bharat Bandh a day earlier to protest against an alleged dilution of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
The mob later spread out into the town and ransacked the houses of local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Rajkumari and former Congress MLA Bharosi Lal Jatav. The agitators set their houses on fire, forcing the administration to impose curfew on Tuesday afternoon, Karauli district collector Abhimanyu Kumar said. Both houses were empty when they were set ablaze.
Despite prohibitory orders, a large number of people under the banner of traders’ union took out a march ostensibly to submit a memorandum to district administration to demand action against people who vandalised shops on Monday. However, the march got unruly and began to force its way into Dalit slums in the town, compelling the police to crack down.
“Police resorted to a lathi charge to prevent them from attacking Dalits. Tear gas shells were also lobbed,” said Karauli additional superintendent of police (SP) Rajesh Yadav.
“The march was a violation of prohibitory orders under section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code clamped on Monday evening,” said Bharatpur inspector general of police Alok Vashishtha, who rushed to Hindaun with additional force.
Vashishtha, who was camping in Gangapur City of Sawai Madhopur since Monday night after curfew was imposed there until 8am Tuesday, said that around noon, the agitators ransacked the house of former Congress MLA Bharosi Lal Jatav and later set it on fire. Later, the agitators also vandalised the house of local BJP MLA Rajkumari Jatav.
“The agitators pelted stones at the police and we had to lob tear gas shells to control them. They burnt tyres in different parts of the town and tried to disturb the situation that had come under control after Monday’s violence,” the IG added.
Police said 35 people were arrested on Tuesday on the charges of rioting and breach of peace. Earlier on Monday, 46 people were arrested in Hindaun on the same charges.
Bharatpur divisional commissioner Subir Kumar extended the ban on internet services until 8pm on Tuesday in Bharatpur, Sawai Madhopur and Karauli districts. Internet services were initially suspended from 2pm to 8pm on Monday.
The Bharatpur divisional commissioner and the inspector general, and Karauli district collector and superintendent of police are camping in Hindaun to monitor the situation. The district magistrate and the SP will review the situation on Wednesday morning to take a decision on lifting or continuing the curfew.