In photos: Dalit outfits call for Bharat Bandh, 9 killed, life disrupted across India

The Bharat bandh protest has swept across north India, with Dalits protesting against a recent Supreme Court order on the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act

Protests were organised across north India by Dalit outfits against the alleged dilution of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The Supreme Court order bans the automatic arrest and filing of cases against people accused under the act. The court had wanted to put a stop to frivolous allegations, but the Dalits view the move as a watering down of the act. India's Dalit community still faces massive discrimination and violence at the hands of India's upper caste and OBC communities.

Dalit organisations and some political parties, however, fear the dilution of the act may lead to an increase in violence against the community.

The court's reasoning to the amendment of the Act was that the changes would protect honest public servants discharging bona fide duties from being blackmailed with false cases under the act.

The protesters, who were demanding that the provisions related to immediate arrest be restored, gathered at Mandi House and blocked the road outside the metro station there, bringing traffic to a halt and inconveniencing commuters travelling towards ITO and other stretches.

Nine persons were killed and several others, including policemen, sustained injuries in violent protests in Madhya Pradesh during the nationwide bandh called today by Dalit outfits against the alleged dilution of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.