Hindaun erupts again, curfew imposed, 35 held

BACKLASH Dalit slums targeted, houses of MLAs burnt in Karauli town JAIPUR:

Non-Dalit groups targeted Dalit slums on Tuesday in apparent retaliation a day after Dalit protesters went on a rampage in Hindaun town of Karauli in eastern Rajasthan during the Bharat bandh in remonstration against an alleged dilution of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities Act).

Later, they spread out into the town and ransacked the houses of local 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 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 Vashish-

PTI Smoke billows from vehicles during Bharat Bandh called by Dalit organisations against the alleged dilution of Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes Act, in Alwar on Monday.