Dalit protests: 5,000 booked, 32 arrested for rioting in Ghaziabad
What's the story
As many as 5,000 people were booked for creating ruckus and damaging public and government properties here during protests against "dilution" of the provisions of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, the SSP said. SSP Vaibhav Krishna said police have lodged reports against 5,000 unidentified and 285 named miscreants under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Here's more.
Sensitive places
Highly sensitive places identified, where agitators may disturb peace again
Till now 32 agitators have been arrested and raids are being conducted to arrest others. Police have identified 43 places in urban and 17 places in rural areas of the district as highly sensitive where agitators may disturb peace again and heavy police forces have been deployed, the SSP said. Nine policemen who were injured during the agitations are still undergoing treatment, Krishna added.
SC/ST Act
SC on March 20 banned automatic arrests under the act
The SC on March 20 banned automatic arrests and registration of criminal cases under the SC/ST Act, 1989. Ruling that no arrest can be made under the Act without prior permission, the SC said that a court can grant anticipatory bail if it, prima facie, finds the complaint is an abuse of the law, false, motivated and intended to blackmail or harass a person.