Bharat Bandh: Two Madhya Pradesh policemen booked over death of Bhind protester

Madhya Pradesh police registered an FIR against two of its officers in connection with the death of a man during the Bharat Bandh protests in Madhya Pradesh, ANI reported. [caption id=“attachment_4416793” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Police personnel lathi charge a protestor during ‘Bharat Bandh’ against the alleged ‘dilution’ of Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes act, in Gwalior on Monday. PTI[/caption] The victim, Mahavir Rajawat, died during Monday’s protests in Bhind. Pathak had suffered bullet wounds during the protests in Morena when he was passing through the area during the Bharat Bandh. “A complaint was received against two constables in Bhind in connection with the death of Mahavir Rajwat who had suffered gunshot on Monday and died later,” IG (Law & Order) Makrand Deuskar said to News18. He added that a case under Section 307 of IPC (attempt to murder) has been registered against the policemen. The protests were a part of the ‘ Bharat bandh ’ called by Dalit organisations against the Supreme Court’s 20 March order that purportedly diluted the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. Police action during Monday’s protests lead to the death of seven people in Madhya Pradesh, officials said on Tuesday. According to IANS, police said three deaths each had been reported from Gwalior and Bhind districts and one in Morena district. Around 100 people, including police personnel, were injured in the widespread violence that rocked the state on Monday. Gwalior’s Superintendent of Police Ashish told IANS 50 rioters had been taken into custody and were being questioned. News18 added that a total of 29 cases have been lodged in connection with the violence in Gwalior, 12 and 10 respectively in Bhind and Morena, he said, adding that the tally could go up later. Curfew imposed on Monday in parts of Gwalior, Bhind and Morena districts continued on Tuesday. Police and paramilitary forces were deployed in large numbers but reports in Bhopal spoke of stray incidents of violence in some places. The widespread disturbances severely affected railway services, stranding hundreds at major stations such as Gwalior, Bina, Bhopal and Itarsi. With inputs from agencies