SC/ST protest: About 100 trains affected, routes restored
What's the story
More than 100 passenger and mail train services were affected on Monday as protesters squatted on the tracks to enforce an all-India shutdown against the dilution of the SC/ST Act, officials said, adding that the routes were largely restored. The protesters blocked rail and road traffic and resorted to violence in Rajasthan, Odisha, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Delhi. Here's more.
Disruption
Mob disrupted train services in Ghaziabad and Hapur stations
The services were disrupted when a mob arrived at the Ghaziabad yard around 10 am, Northern Railway officials said. Many trains, including Saptakranti Express, Utkal Express, Gatimaan Express, Bhubaneswar and Ranchi Rajdhani and Kanpur Shatabdi, were stopped ahead of Ghaziabad at Meerut and Modinagar. A mob of about 2,000 people disrupted the train services at the Hapur station as well, Northern Railway officials added.
More disruption
Train services were also disrupted at Agra, Ferozpur, Amritsar-Ludhiana section
In Agra Division, around 28 trains were delayed, including a Shatabdi and the Gatimaan Express. At the Ferozpur yard, a mob of about 150 people arrived at 8:30am, resulting in the disruption in the movement of trains. Another mob of around 200 people disrupted the services in the Amritsar-Ludhiana section. The routes, officials said, were cleared of the protesters and trains resumed their journey.
Impact
43 trains were affected in East Central Railways
Around 43 trains were affected in the East Central Railways (ECR) because of the protests, which started at 5:10 am in the Dhanbad division. In Bihar, the protesters stormed the Patna Junction railway station, forcibly closed down the ticket booking counters and squatted on the tracks. In the East Coast Railway (ECoR), around four train services were also disrupted.
Affect
18 train services were affected in NER, SER, and NFR
Across the North Eastern Railway (NER), South Eastern Railway (SER) and Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), around 18 train services were disrupted. The trains resumed their journey after 9:30 am. Several Dalit organizations have called for a "Bharat Bandh" on Monday to express their concerns over the dilution of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
SC/ST Act
Supreme Court diluted the provisions of SC/ST Act
The Supreme Court had, on March 20, diluted the provisions of the SC/ST Act and said government servants should not be arrested without prior sanction and private citizens, too, should be arrested only after an inquiry under the law. Dalit organizations and some political parties fear that the dilution of the provisions of the Act may lead to increase in violence against Dalits.