Rajasthan: Houses of Dalit MLA, former minister set on fire in Hindaun

Curfew was imposed in Hindaun city on Tuesday after angry protesters clashed with police and set houses of two Dalit leaders, including BJP MLA Rajkumari Jatav and former minister Bharosi Lal Jatav, on fire. ANI reported that the houses of the leaders were burnt after “alleged molestation of women in a bus by protesters yesterday.”

Tension prevailed in the city despite prohibitory orders under section 144, following violent protests on Monday. According to reports, about 40,000 protesters took to the streets on Tuesday. They were demanding that the state government take action against those responsible for alleged incidents of arson and loot during Monday’s 'Bharat Bandh', which had been called in protest against a Supreme Court judgment diluting some stringent provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Trouble erupted when some miscreants clashed with the police taking out a flag march through the city on Tuesday morning. Police resorted to lathi-charge and fired tear gas shells. Some of the shells reportedly exploded inside a government school, that led to a stampede. As many as two dozen people, including students, were reportedly injured by the teargas shells and in the ensuing stampede. The injured are undergoing treatment at a local hospital.

On Monday, during a rally against dilution of SC/ST (PoA) Act, a mob allegedly vandalised and looted hundreds of shops. They also created ruckus at the local railway station, bus stand, government hospital and banks. The miscreants also set the makeshift state roadways bus-stand near the railways station ablaze. As many as 25 buses were reportedly damaged by the protesters.

Clashes erupted between police and protesters when the latter tried to burn down the ticket counter at Hindaun’s railway station. While scores of policemen sustained injuries, the protesting mob damaged several private vehicles as well.

Meanwhile, additional security personnel have been deployed in the city to thwart any untoward incident and bring the situation to normalcy.