Meerut put on high-alert for Ambedkar Jayanti
The 127th birth anniversary of Bhim Rao Ambedkar will be celebrated in Meerut amid high-security and suspended Internet. After the violent clashes on April 2, the administration has taken cautionary steps and suspended Internet services from 9 PM Friday to 8 PM Saturday. 21 spots in Meerut city and 35 in rural areas were identified as hyper-sensitive by the administration.
An official was quoted, "The 22 sectors (12 in urban and 10 in rural areas) come under a circle officer and a magistrate who have local police and Rapid Action Force to assist them. The forces will trail the processions in different parts."
After the widespread Dalit agitation on April 2 which left three dead in Meerut zone, the administration isn't taking any risk. For the 'Shobha Yatra' on Saturday, the administration has deployed companies to areas like Muzaffarnagar, Hapur and Bulandshahr, that witnessed violence earlier this month. Authorities pleaded parents to not let their children participate in processions, to be safe from any legal action.
In the aftermath of April 2 clashes, a Dalit worker was shot in Shobhapur village on April 4. A police post was also set on fire in the village. As a mark of protest, the village has decided against celebrating Ambedkar Jayanti.
