Bharat Bandh against SC/ST Act amendment: Agitators turn violent in Bihar; section 144 imposed in MP

At least 35 outfits linked to the general category and OBC members in Madhya Pradesh have called for a Bharat bandh on Thursday (September 6) to protest against the Parliament passing an amendment to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.

The Parliament's amendment overrode a Supreme Court order, which not only undid the "dilution" but also changed it back to the original law that had provisions for an FIR without any preliminary enquiry and immediate arrest of a person.

The SC had also laid down guidelines like conducting a preliminary enquiry in order to ensure that the allegations are not "frivolous or motivated" and thus "avoid false implications". However, this did not go down well with the members of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and they have been holding agitations against it.

Here are the LIVE updates:

• Police said the bandh has been observed in a peaceful manner with no reports of violence or clashes so far, reported Indian Express.
• Shops in Lucknow closed due to nation-wide bandh called against amendment to SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

• Visuals of Bharat Bandh in Rajasthan.

• Drones are being used for surveillance in Gwalior. SDM Narottam Bhargavi says,"Lot of security forces deployed. We are fully ready to face any kind of situation.

• Visuals of the bandh from Rajasthan's Ajmer.

• Violence has erupted in a few places in Bihar. Protesters set fire to tyres in Mokama (pic 1) and block road (pic 3) in Badh during Bharat Bandh protests.

• "Forces have been divided judiciously across the districts. It has been peaceful till now. Nobody can force anyone to be a part of the bandh," the police has said, reported ANI.

• Agitators have stopped train in Darbhanga (pic 1) and Munger's Masudan (pic 2). The nationwide bandh has been called by various organisations against amendments in SC/ST Act.

• Shops and petrol bunks are also closed today.
  "We have decided to shut petrol pumps from 10 am to 2 pm tomorrow due to security reasons as some organisations have given a call for bandh," PTI quoted Madhya Pradesh Petrol Pump Owners Association president Ajay Singh as saying on Thursday.

• The District Education Officer in Bhind has ordered that schools in the district will remain closed. Educational institutions in Gwalior has also been directed to remain shut. 
• Around 34 units of security forces and 5000 security personnel have been deployed in the state.

• 35 districts across the state have been put on high alert in view of Bharat Bandh. Section 144 CrPc has also been imposed in several districts of MP. 

• In view of the Bharat Bandh, the Madhya Pradesh police have made elaborate security arrangements and a high alert has been sounded s across the state.