No impact of Bharat bandh in UP
No report of any untoward incident from any part of the state, says DIG (law and order)
LUCKNOW/MEERUT/AGRA/BAREILLY: The Bharat bandh called by some groups against caste-based reservations in jobs and education had no impact in UP on Tuesday with life remaining by and large normal across the state, a senior police officer said.
“There was no report of any untoward incident from any part of the state and life was normal,” said deputy inspector general of police (law and order) Praveen Kumar at the home department’s briefing.
In Lucknow, life was normal with traders opening their shops and vehicles plying on the roads. The main markets including Hazratganj, Aminabad, Chowk, Alambagh, Charbagh, Naka Hindola, Nakkhas, Thakurganj, Patrakarpuram, Bhootnath, Indira Nagar and Aliganj remained open.
Government and private offices and schools too functioned without any hindrance.
District magistrate Kaushalraj Sharma said all arrangements were made to check any sort of hooliganism and adequate police force was deployed at sensitive spots to maintain peace.
However, some people assembled at the GPO Park and raised some slogans against reservation, but they were chased away by the police force present on the spot.
PEACEFUL IN MEERUT, BAREILLY AND AGRA
The anti-quota bandh call remained peaceful in nine districts of Meerut zone.
A few activists of Parshuram Swabhiman Sena handed over their memorandum to officials outside the collectorate in which they demanded abolition of reservation.
Internet services remained suspended in sensitive Saharanpur and Hapur districts of the zone. ADG Meerut zone Prashant Kumar said that bandh remained peaceful in the zone.
SSP Manzil Saini, DM Anil Dhingra, SP (city) Maan Singh Chauhan and all COs with ADMs and city magistrates remained on patrol along with force. Schools and colleges also remained open but there was less traffic on the roads.
People avoided going outside in the morning in order to avoid any odd situation which many of them faced during the bandh on April 2. Situation however normalised till afternoon as shops and markets also remained open.
Forces were deployed to ensure safety of statues, especially of Dr Ambedkar, in order to prevent any attempt of anti-social elements to vitiate the atmosphere.
The district administration of Bareilly and Moradabad remained on alert on Tuesday. However, no untoward incidents were reported with all major political parties staying away from the protests.
“Peaceful protests were organised by some groups in Bareilly city. We have asked our teams to stay on alert for the next 24 hours,” said SSP Bareilly Joginder Kumar.
Local groups in Bareilly, claiming to represent people of general and OBC categories, took out a peace march in Civil Lines area.
“Reservation is the biggest hindrance in the country’s development. Our society must unite to abolish caste-based reservation,” said Shankar Rathore of the All India Kshatriya Mahasabha.
Although the protest was not announced publicly by any group, pictures and messages promoting it were shared on social media. “I came to know about it through facebook,” said Dinesh Singh, 24, a businessman who participated in the march.
The bandh called for Tuesday passed off peacefully in Agra. RAF was deployed at all nooks and corners of the city while the SSP and district magistrate maintained strict vigil. The police also kept a watch on social media to prevent any provocative messages being circulated.
Though markets opened late, the roads had thin traffic during the day. Besides, schools were open but had less attendance.
SYMBOLIC PROTEST IN ALIGARH
The anti-quota bandh call evoked a mixed response in Aligarh. Shops of upper caste shopkeepers remained partially closed while the wholesale grain market, Dhanipur Mandi, was completely shut.
Swabhiman Morcha prantiya adhyaksh Nand Ram Pathak said, “The Morcha welcomes directions issued by the apex court on SC/ST Act which explain that if any FIR is registered under SC/ST Act then investigations should first be made and then the accused may be arrested.”
District magistrate Chandra Bhushan Singh asked SDMs to ensure that no programme is organised without permission from the administration. He also fixed duties of SDMs, COs and magistrates to ensure security of Ambedkar statues in the district.
Over half a dozen organisations including the Kshatriya Mahasabha and Brahmin Mahasabha held a meeting at Ramlila ground where they declared that they were not emphasising on bharat bandh but only symbolically opposing the review petition filed by the central government on SC/ST Act ruling.
District president of Kshatriya Mahasabha Shailendra Pal Singh said: “We have not called for Bharat bandh. We just demand an inquiry into the violence during April 2 Bharat Bandh. We honour the SC’s orders.”
District president of Brahmin Mahasabha Rakesh Sharma said, “Upper caste organisations are not in favour of any kind of violence or illegal activities. The SC is the highest judicial court and its orders must be honoured by all.”
Hindu Mahasabha activists got their heads tonsured at Ramlila grounds to protest the review petition on the SC/ST Act ruling. Hindu Mahasabha spokesman Ashok Pandey said, “All those people opposing the review petition filed by the central government on SC/ST Act ruling have got their heads shaven as a mark of protest.”
NET SERVICES SUSPENDED IN MUZ’NAGAR
The anti-quota bandh call had no impact in Muzaffarnagar amid heavy security arrangements. Markets remained open in the entire district but some shops were closed due to the weekly off on Tuesday.
After the district magistrate’s order educational institutions were closed during the day while Internet services remained suspended from 12am to 6pm.
SP (city) Ombeer Singh said not a single incident related to bharat bandh was reported from any part of the district.
No organisation took responsibility of the bandh call. But false messages related to the bandh circulated on social media had some effect on people. As a result, very few passengers arrived at the railway and bus stations.
(INPUTS FROM ALIGARH, MUZAFFARNAGAR AND PTI)