Congress president Rahul Gandhi today termed the deaths of nine people in police firing during protests against the Sterlite copper plant in Tamil Nadu a “brutal example of state sponsored terrorism”. He said people were murdered in Tuticorin for protesting against injustice. “The gunning down by the police of 9 people in the Sterlite protest in Tamil Nadu is a brutal example of state sponsored terrorism. These citizens were murdered for protesting against injustice. My thoughts and prayers are with the families of these martyrs and the injured,” Gandhi said on Twitter.Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami said nine people were killed in police action at Tuticorin and ordered a judicial inquiry into the police action.

The police action followed months-long protests for the closure of Vedanta’s Sterlite copper unit in Tuticorin, about 600 km from Tamil Nadu capital Chennai, over pollution concerns. The agitation turned violent today, with protesters fighting pitched battles with police, prompting it to open fire. Hurling stones and setting government vehicles and public property on fire, the agitators went on the rampage in the town. </s> New Delhi: Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday termed the deaths of nine people in police firing during protests against the Sterlite copper plant in Tamil Nadu a "brutal example of state-sponsored terrorism". He also said people were murdered in Tuticorin for protesting against injustice.

"The gunning down by the police of nine people in the Sterlite protest in Tamil Nadu is a brutal example of state-sponsored terrorism. These citizens were murdered for protesting against injustice. My thoughts and prayers are with the families of these martyrs and the injured," Rahul said on Twitter.

Nine people were killed in police firing after protests for the closure of Vedanta group's Sterlite Copper plant over pollution concerns turned violent in Tuticorin. Chief Minister K Palaniswami confirmed reports about the death of nine people in "police action". He announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the families of each of the deceased and ordered a judicial inquiry into the violence. The CM also said in a statement that the protesters took out a procession towards the collectorate in defiance of the prohibitory orders clamped in the specific area in Tuticorin.

The protests were going on in Tuticorin for over three months now, but violence erupted on Tuesday with agitators allegedly fighting pitched battles with police, prompting it to open fire. Hurling stones and setting government vehicles and public property on fire, the agitators went on the rampage in the town, about 600 km from Tamil Nadu capital Chennai.

Police said nearly 5000 protesters gathered near a local church and insisted on taking out a rally to the district collectorate after they were denied permission to march to the copper smelter plant. Initial pushing and shoving soon led to violent clashes, after agitated locals began hurling stones at police and overturned a vehicle. Security personnel used batons and burst teargas shells to break up the protest, PTI reported.

Many were injured in stone-pelting by the agitators, who also set some vehicles on fire. Windscreens of some government cars were smashed and bank premises were attacked by the rampaging mobs. As the violence spiralled, police opened fire, killing nine people.

DMK working president and Leader of Opposition, MK Stalin, slammed the "inhumane" firing on protestors. In a statement, he demanded an inquiry by a sitting high court judge, besides a compensation of Rs 1 crore for the families of each of those killed. The government committed a "Himalayan blunder" by handling the protest with "guns and teargas shells," he said, adding at least a minister accompanied by the district collector should have spoken to the agitators. Stalin called for the removal of state police chief TK Rajendiran.

MDMK founder Vaiko likened the incident to the British era Jallianwala Bagh massacre, while the CPI(M)'s state unit demanded the chief minister's resignation.

Opposition parties including PMK, DMDK, Congress, and the MNM slammed the violence and police action, while actor Rajinikanth, who is slated to launch his political party, held the government responsible for the deaths.

Stalin and MNM founder Kamal Haasan demanded permanent closure of the plant. </s> Case registered against BJP worker for firing during the violent SC/ST protests

A case has been registered against a BJP worker Raja Chauhan for firing in between the violent protests happening in Madhya Pradesh’s Gwalior against dilution of the Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribe Act.

Chauhan was allegedly captured in camera for firing at the people during the protest . The death toll in Madhya Pradesh due to violent protests during the nationwide bandh called by several Dalit organisations against the alleged dilution of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act has reached seven after one more person succumbed to its injuries.

Protests across the country turned violent on Monday after protesters resorted to stone pelting, damaging public properties and rail and various other blockades. Violent protests were reported from various states, including Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Bihar, Gujarat, and Punjab. </s> Nine people were killed in clashes on Monday as Dalit groups – angered over an alleged dilution of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act – carried out protests across several northern states, even as the Centre moved the Supreme Court seeking a review of its recent judgment in the matter. (Bharat bandh live updates)

Clashes with the police, attacks on buses and government property, and blockades of trains and roads were reported across states including Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab and Bihar.

The maximum deaths were reported in Madhya Pradesh, with the police saying three people were killed in Gwalior, two in Bhind and one in Morena. Curfew was imposed in many parts of the state and internet services were withdrawn to prevent rumours. The home ministry said central forces were sent to Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab to control the protesters.

The protests also claimed two lives in Uttar Pradesh -- one in Muzaffarnagar and another in Meerut. One person was killed in Rajasthan’s Alwar as the police

Read | Bharat Bandh: What happened where during Dalit protests

opened fire to disperse a mob, according to officials.

At most of the places, the protesters were seen carrying blue flags bearing the name of Bhim Sena.

The protests continued in several places even after home minister Rajnath Singh said the Centre had filed a review petition in the Supreme Court against the alleged dilution of the SC/ST Act. “The government is appealing against the court order but it is a responsibility of everyone including all political parties to ensure peace,” Singh said in Delhi, where the Dalit protests caused traffic chaos.

Protesters squatted on tracks in several places outside Delhi, stopping trains including the Dehradun Express and the Ranchi Rajdhani. They also gathered at Mandi House blocked the road outside the metro station, bringing traffic to a halt in adjoining central areas. Protests and traffic snarls were also reported in Noida, Faridabad and Gurgaon

Union law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the government was not a party to the SC decision on the SC/ST Act and, “with due respect, does not agree with the reasoning given by the apex court”.

“On behalf of the Ministry of Social Justice, a very comprehensive review has been filed (against the dilution of the SC/ST Act),” he said.

Prasad said the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Centre were committed to the welfare of SCs and STs and alleged that political parties, including the Congress, were using the issue for political gains – a charge denied by the Opposition.

The Supreme Court had on March 20 allegedly diluted the provisions of the SC/ST Act, ruling that government servants should not be arrested without prior sanction and private citizens, too, be arrested only after an inquiry under the law.

On Monday, law ministry officials said the government should have been a party in the case, questioning the SC’s move to read down the law.

Dalits make up 200 million of the country’s 1.3 billion population and are at the bottom of the caste hierarchy. They are angry at the Supreme Court’s ruling that bans the automatic arrest of the accused in cases under the SC/SC Act, a 1989 legislation meant to guard marginalised groups against discrimination and harassment.

Shortly after the protests broke out on Monday, the Congress alleged that incidents of Dalits atrocities had increased in the country since the National Democratic Alliance came to power in 2014.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi attacked the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the Bharatiya Janata Party for the plight of Dalits, saying he saluted the “brothers and sisters” from the community who were agitating to demand the protection of their rights. Responding to Gandhi’s remarks, Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan said he had no moral right to attack the BJP over Dalit issues, as his party did “nothing” for the community or its icon BR Ambedkar.

Communication and transport services were severely hit across states, with over 100 trains getting affected due to the protests. Trains including the Saptakranti Express, Utkal Express, Gatiman Express, the Bhubaneswar and Ranchi Rajdhanis and the Kanpur Shatabdi were stopped ahead of Ghaziabad, a Northern Railway official said. In the Agra Division, around 28 trains were delayed, including the Shatabdi Express.

The protests spread across Uttar Pradesh, where a police post near Meerut was set on fire by protesters. Public buses were also torched in the state’s Azamgarh district.

Punjab and Haryana also saw widespread protests. Hundreds of protesters carrying swords and sticks forced shopkeepers in Jalandhar, Amritsar and Bathinda to shut down.

In Bihar, activists disrupted rail and road traffic. Mobs shut down markets and shops as well as educational institutions, police said.

The widespread agitation came after Dalit organisations, including the the Dalit Shoshan Mukti Manch, and some political parties said they feared the move would lead to an increase in violence against Dalits. </s> LIVE Updates: At least nine persons were killed and hundreds injured today in violence across several states as protesters blocked trains, clashed with police and set fire to private and public properties, including police posts, during a nationwide bandh called by Dalit groups. Thousands were detained following widespread incidents of arson, firing and vandalism across over ten states, several of them being BJP-ruled including Madhya Pradesh where at least six persons died during the protests against the alleged dilution of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Two persons died in Uttar Pradesh and one in Rajasthan, according to officials there. Other states hit with violence included Punjab, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Gujarat, Haryana, Maharashtra and Delhi. Those arrested included a former BSP MLA in UP. Curfew was imposed in several places, while the Union Home Ministry, which rushed 800 anti-riot policemen to MP and UP, asked all states to take preventive steps and maintain public order to ensure safety of lives and property. The Army and paramilitary forces were also put on standby in Punjab. In Punjab's Firozpur, protesters openly brandished swords during the protests, while cars in UP were set ablaze. The agitation also reached the capital as angry Dalits blocked roads in Connaught Place. A few protesters were detained by Delhi police. Dalits have come out in heavy number across the country to protest against the dilution of the SC/ST Act by the Supreme Court. In the face of stiff pressure from both within the NDA and opposition, Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has said that the government does not agree with the Supreme Court's decision and has filed a strong, comprehensive review petition against the apex court's order.



Stay tuned as Sanchari Chatterjee brings you the latest updates:

Apr 2, 2018 11:59 pm (IST) Alleging that Dalit atrocities have peaked in the country ever since BJP came to power in 2014 Congress’ Priyanka Chaturvedi on Monday said that the Centre had deliberately avoided dialogue with the aggrieved Dalits after the Supreme Court pronounced its verdict on SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and it swung into action only after the agitation intensified and pressure was exerted on it.

Apr 2, 2018 11:56 pm (IST) MADHYA PRADESH | Curfew was imposed in some areas of Gwalior as well as in cities of Bhind and Morena districts in view of the violence witnessed during the bandh. Internet services have been suspended in the entire Chambal and Gwalior regions, besides the Sagar region which also saw protests. Six people were killed and several others injured in Madhya Pradesh on Monday.

Apr 2, 2018 11:04 pm (IST) DEATH TOLL 9 | Another person died in Uttar Pradesh during the violence that rocked the 'Bharat Bandh' on Monday. This takes the total death toll up to nine across three states. Six have died in Madhya Pradesh, one in Rajasthan and two persons in Uttar Pradesh.

Apr 2, 2018 11:02 pm (IST) COMPENSATION | Madhya Pradesh government announces Rs 4 lakh compensation to the kin of those killed in today’s violence.

Apr 2, 2018 10:55 pm (IST) AIRLINES WAIVE CHARGES | Jet Airways and Vistara today announced waiving cancellation and charges for change of dates for those passengers booked for flights operating to and out of airports in places affected due to Dalit protests. "Due to unrest in Chandigarh, Patna and Amritsar, we are waiving off penalties for date/ flight change, refund, no-show & fare difference (if any) on all confirmed tickets for flights to/out of these cities for travel on April 2," Jet Airways said in a tweet.

Apr 2, 2018 10:06 pm (IST) Smoke billows out of burning cars during the 'Bharat Bandh' in Muzzaffarnagar on Monday. (PTI Photo)

Apr 2, 2018 10:02 pm (IST) JIGNESH MEVANI | Dalit leader and independent MLA Jignesh Mevani joined the protests in Ahmedabad and said the apex court verdict was against the Constitution. "The case before the SC was related to a single person charged under the Atrocities Act, who pleaded that he was not guilty. The petitioner did not ask for any revision of the entire SC/ST Act. "But, the apex court gave a verdict as if it is over and above Parliament or the Constitution," Mevani told reporters.

Apr 2, 2018 9:59 pm (IST) BJP ATTACKS CONGRESS | The BJP today underlined the government's measures for the development of Dalits and dubbed Rahul Gandhi a "political vulture" out to seek "advantage" after the Congress chief blamed the ruling party for the community's plight. Union minister Thawarchand Gehlot and Arjun Ram Meghwal, both Dalits, sought to turn tables on the Congress over its treatment of B R Ambedkar, an icon of the Scheduled Castes. Their attack on Congress chief Rahul Gandhi came following his remarks that it was in the DNA of the RSS and BJP to keep Dalits at the lowest level in the Indian society.

Apr 2, 2018 9:57 pm (IST) The Congress and the Left parties today blamed the Centre for the violence during protests by Dalit bodies against the alleged dilution of the SC/ST Act and accused it of not representing the case properly in the Supreme Court. Congress President Rahul Gandhi slammed the RSS and the BJP for the plight of Dalits.

Apr 2, 2018 9:56 pm (IST) TRAINS DISRUPTED | Over 100 passenger and mail train services were today affected, nine were cancelled and a few more short-terminated. As the protesters squatted on the tracks, hurled stones at the trains and wreaked havoc on the platforms, the railways cancelled the Amritsar-Jaynagar Saryu Yamuna Express, New Delhi-Amritsar Shatabdi Express, Jaipur-Chandigarh Intercity Express, Ajmer-New Delhi Shatabdi Express and the Sealdah-Varanasi Express, scheduled to have run today.

Apr 2, 2018 9:54 pm (IST) UTTAR PRADESH | One person was killed, over 70 others, including many policemen, injured while 448 people were arrested in Uttar Pradesh during the Dalit protests on Monday. Several towns in western UP saw violence and in Meerut, a former BSP MLA Yogesh Verma, was among those arrested, police said. There were several incidents of violence in Meerut, including the torching of a police post while in the neighbouring Muzaffarnagar, a man was killed and several vehicles were damaged, they added.

Apr 2, 2018 9:47 pm (IST) PUNJAB | Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today directed the security forces to stay on alert in view of the "volatile situation" prevailing in some of the neighbouring states during Bharat Bandh called by various SC/ST organisations. Singh urged the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes community to wait for the Supreme Court's decision on the review petition filed by the Centre and assured them of all possible efforts to address their grievances, both legally and administratively.

Apr 2, 2018 8:59 pm (IST) The Centre rushed 1,700 security personnel to the violence-hit states in north India. (Image: News18)

Apr 2, 2018 8:56 pm (IST) Bihar: Reports from Patna said that more than 3,000 people were held by the police across Bihar for disruption of public order during the bandh.

Apr 2, 2018 8:55 pm (IST) East India: Rail and road traffic got disrupted and properties vandalised across Bihar, Jharkhand and Odisha today as violence erupted during protests by Dalit and tribal organisations. Police arrested thousands of agitators in Bihar and Jharkhand during the day-long bandh.

Apr 2, 2018 8:46 pm (IST) The CPI(M) in a statement said the response to the call for a 'Bharat Bandh' by various Dalit organisations had been widespread in states like Punjab, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh. "This shows the anger against the Supreme Court's decision to dilute the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act", it said.

Apr 2, 2018 8:45 pm (IST) 1700 PERSONNEL RUSHED IN | The Centre today rushed 1,700 anti-riot police personnel to Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Punjab after violence erupted in the four states during a nationwide bandh called by Dalit outfits.

Apr 2, 2018 8:43 pm (IST) Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh leader Prakash Ambedkar today said the Supreme Court and the Centre were responsible for today's violence in various states during the nationwide bandh called by Dalit outfits.

Apr 2, 2018 8:43 pm (IST) The Supreme Court declined urgent hearing on a writ petition filed by All India Federation of SC/ST Organisations against the verdict claiming that the entire nation has witnessed large-scale violence during today's 'Bharat Bandh'. The court said the plea would be listed and heard in due course.

Apr 2, 2018 8:42 pm (IST) CENTRE ON SC/ST ACT | As Dalit protests turned violent, the Centre today moved the Supreme Court seeking a review of its recent verdict on scheduled castes and tribes, saying it has led to "dilution" of some stringent provisions of law to prevent atrocities against them. Separately, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the government "differs" with the reasoning given by the apex court judgment "virtually redoing the entire architecture of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act".

Apr 2, 2018 8:36 pm (IST) Former Union minister Sharad Yadav today termed the Centre's review plea in the Supreme Court against its ruling on a law on atrocities against Dalits an "eyewash" and demanded that the government should rather bring an ordinance. "The conviction rate under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act was anyway significantly lower than the national conviction rate for other crimes. Therefore, the government should bring an ordinance as an immediate relief," he said in a statement. "The review plea is nothing but an eyewash," Yadav added.

Apr 2, 2018 7:59 pm (IST) Siddaramaiah's tweets on Bharat Bandh: How then can we expect the BJP to work against dilution of SC/ST Atrocities Act? #BharatBandh — Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) April 2, 2018

Apr 2, 2018 7:58 pm (IST) Siddaramaiah: They beat up poor Dalits for handling dead cattle, attack Dalits for celebrating at Bhima Koregaon memorial & their Ministers call Dalit activists protesting against attempts to change the Constitution as Dogs.

Apr 2, 2018 7:58 pm (IST) In a series of tweets, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah criticised the Centre for not doing enough to prevent the alleged dilution of the SC/ST Act. He said, "The BJP led NDA Govt has not taken steps to prevent the dilution of the SC/ST Atrocities Act. The BJP does not care for the Dalits. They try to appease them with Jumlas & at the same time deploy Ministers like Anant Kumar Hegde to say they are here to change the Constitution."

Apr 2, 2018 7:47 pm (IST) Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan, says, “Some people are trying to disturb peace in Madhya Pradesh. We will take strict action against them. I appeal for peace. The government will take all measures to maintain peace.” A total of six people died in Madhya Pradesh as Dalit protests turned violent during Monday’s Bharat Bandh.

Apr 2, 2018 7:11 pm (IST) DEATH TOLL 8 | Death toll in Madhya Pradesh goes up to six while the total count across states now stands at 8. One person has died each in Rajasthan’s Alwar and Uttar Pradesh’s Muzaffarnagar. </s> NEW DELHI (Reuters) - At least nine people were killed in India’s Tamil Nadu state on Tuesday when police fired at violent protesters calling for the closure of a copper smelter run by Vedanta Resources, authorities said.

The state’s chief minister, Edappadi K. Palaniswami, said police had been forced to act after the protests turned violent, and that nine people had been killed. The state’s governor put the death toll at 11.

The head of the national opposition Congress party, Rahul Gandhi, condemned the use of lethal force, calling it “a brutal example of state-sponsored terrorism”.

Residents of the port city of Thootukudi, located at the tip of the Indian subcontinent, and environmentalists have been demonstrating for more than three months against the copper plant, one of India’s biggest, alleging that it is a major source of pollution and a risk to fisheries.

On Tuesday, a crowd waving black flags stormed the district government headquarters and an apartment block for Vedanta employees, a company official said, declining to be named for fear of being targeted.

Protesters set vehicles on fire and threw stones at police, Palaniswami said in a statement.

He said police had been forced to act “since protesters disregarded a curfew, acted against the advice of police”, and indulged in violence.

“MURDERED FOR PROTESTING”

Gandhi tweeted: “The gunning down by the police of nine people in ... Tamil Nadu, is a brutal example of state-sponsored terrorism. These citizens were murdered for protesting against injustice. My thoughts & prayers are with the families of these martyrs and the injured.”

Local television showed police trying to disperse the crowd with tear gas and a policeman firing shots from the top of a van. Smoke rose from several parts of the city.

State Minister D. Jayakumar said in a televised address that it had been “unavoidable” for police to fire on protesters.

The plant, which can produce 400,000 tonnes of copper a year, has been shut for more than 50 days and will remain closed until at least June 6 because the local pollution regulator has said it is not complying with environmental rules.

Environmental activists and some local politicians want the government to shut the plant permanently.

“The inaction of the government has led to the people’s protests, and police resorting to firing to control it. Action should be taken to shut down the plant immediately to address this issue,” M.K. Stalin, leader of the main opposition group in Tamil Nadu, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, said in a Facebook post.

Women shout slogans during a protest against the government and police forces after at least nine people were killed when police fired at protesters calling for the closure of a Vedanta Resources-controlled copper smelter in Thootukudi, in southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, in Chennai, India, May 22, 2018. REUTERS/P.Ravikumar

Vedanta says the protests are based on “false allegations”, and that it plans to double capacity at the smelter to 800,000 tonnes per year.

“We would like to restart the plant as soon as possible, in a peaceful manner,” P. Ramnath, chief executive of Vedanta Ltd’s copper business, told Reuters.

The plant was shut for more than two months in 2013 by an environmental court after residents complained about emissions. </s> NEW DELHI: Eight people were killed on Monday in protests by members belonging to the Dalit community against a Supreme Court ruling, which allegedly "diluted" the SC/ST Act.Reports of protests emerged from several cities of the country against the SC’s ruling. In Madhya Pradesh, people blocked road and rail network and set fire to some public property. In the resulting violence, five people lost their lives. Widespread protests were also reported from the states of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat.Here are the reactions of various political leaders and ministers on the ongoing protests:We have filed the review petition in Supreme Court. I appeal to all political parties and groups to maintain peace and not incite violence".“To keep the Dalits at the lowest level of the Indian society is in the DNA of BJP/RSS. Whosoever tries to raise his voice is violently suppressed. Thousands of Dalit brothers and sisters have taken to the streets against the Modi government demanding the protection of their rights. We salute them,” he tweeted in Hindi.“I support the protest against the SC/ST Act. I have got to know that some people spread violence during the protests, I strongly condemn it. Our party is not behind the violence during the protests,” she said."We are shocked and pained that some of my Dalit brothers and sisters have been killed and injured. We support their cause. I appeal for peace," Banerjee said."Under the situation resulting due to Supreme Court's decision on SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act, AAP is with the movement of SC/ST community. Central government should deploy top lawyers for the petition in the Supreme Court and the need and fundamental intent of the Act should be preserved."“We condemn the police firing. Such a situation has arisen because of the failure of the Modi government to present an effective case against the dilution of the Prevention of Atrocities Act,” he said in a tweet."Rahul Gandhi has no moral right to speak about the issues of Dalits. He should first answer why his party did this to Ambedkar... The Congress only abused him and encouraged others to abuse him," he said.“One can understand if people protest, but why is opposition playing politics? Parties like Congress who did not give Bharat Ratna to BR Ambedkar are now acting like his followers,” he added. </s> Violent protests were witnessed across several states after several Dalit organisations called for a Bharat Bandh on Monday in the wake of the dilution of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes Prevention of Atrocities Act, 1989. At least 8-9 people lost their lives as protests continued to grip parts of northern states while more than 250 people were detained amid protests. Among states which witnessed violence on Monday included Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab and others. In Punjab, educational institutions were kept shut while school exams were postponed keeping the security of students in the view.

The Punjab government appointed the Army and paramilitary forces to remain on ‘stand-by’ while internet services in the state have already been suspended from Sunday and will continue on till 11PM tonight (April 2). Reports said the Public transport services will remain temporarily suspended in the State. In Uttar Pradesh, Muzaffarnagar city also witnessed vandalism by angry protesters as they ransacked public property including banks, ATMs, vehicles which were set ablaze.

Also Read: Exclusive: What the Centre’s review petition on SC/ST Act order says

Among those who lost their lives in the nation-wide protests, at least 2 protesters died in Gwalior, 1 in Bhind and 1 in Morena in Madhya Pradesh and 1 in Rajasthan and 2 in Uttar Pradesh. Several police officials also injured during Bharat Bandh over SC/ST protection act. Speaking on the issue, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan said, “few unfortunate incidents took place today. Strict action will be taken against those responsible. I appeal to everyone to maintain peace and harmony, and not pay attention to rumours. It is government’s responsibility to ensure safety and security of all sections of the society.”

Meanwhile, the Central government on Monday filed a petition points seeking review of Supreme Court’s recent judgment diluting the mandatory arrest provision under SC/ST (Prevention of) Atrocities Act. The Centre has sought restoration of earlier status by which any offense under the SC/ST Act was made a cognizable non-bailable offence. Centre said that it is necessary for the court to hear Centre’s oral arguments.

Also Read: Explainer: Why the protests over SC/ST Act? What did the Supreme Court do to it? </s> Angry residents attacked police vans and officials whom they accused of arriving late to the scene of an accident which killed 36 people in India's eastern state of West Bengal.

Bystanders rushed to the rescue when a bus crashed through a bridge and fell into a river in Murshidabad district.

A huge crowd which had gathered around the scene started to throw stones at the police when they arrived.

The police retaliated by using tear gas to disperse the mob.

Two officials from the fire brigade and one policeman were reportedly injured in the clashes.

The crowd is said to have overturned police vans and even set fire to two of them.

Locals told BBC Hindi the bus had had more than 50 passengers on board.

"Rescuers have retrieved 36 bodies so far," state transport minister Subhendu Adhikari told AFP news agency.

Nine passengers were taken to hospital, he said. Reports say a number of people are still missing.

The state has ordered an inquiry into the incident.
​Nine people have died amid violent protests involving tens of thousands of protesters from the SC/ST caste groups across India.