The Gwalior district in Madhya Pradesh is on high alert as security measures have been tightened ahead of a Bharat Bandh called by the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Bhim Sena. The bandh has been organised in response to ongoing protests against a recent Supreme Court judgement regarding the reservation system in India.
The Reservation Bachao Sangharsh Samiti announced the Bharat Bandh for August 21, prompting the district administration and police to prepare extensively for the potential unrest.
Authorities have implemented a range of security measures, including the deployment of police personnel across key areas, the installation of barricades, and the use of drone cameras to monitor the situation.
Gwalior Superintendent of Police (SP) Dharmaveer Singh shared details about the security arrangements, stating that police patrols have been active since early morning on the day of the bandh.
Over 150 fixed barricades have been erected, and senior police officials, including CSP and Additional SP, are conducting regular rounds to ensure order. The primary focus of the protest is led by the BSP and Bhim Sena, with the police maintaining continuous communication with the leaders of these organisations.
SP Singh emphasised that while the protest is expected to proceed according to pre-discussed plans, any attempts to create disturbances will be met with strict action.
He reassured that the markets in Gwalior will remain open as usual, and there is no official call for a market shutdown. However, if any individuals attempt to forcibly close the markets, the police are prepared to take necessary action.
The authorities have granted permission for the planned programs, which include the submission of a memorandum by the protestors. The police are closely monitoring the situation with the help of drone cameras to keep track of any anti-social activities.
Additionally, cyber police and social media teams are actively surveilling online platforms to prevent the spread of content that could disturb social harmony. SP Singh warned that anyone found sharing such content will face legal consequences, including the filing of an FIR.
The protest has been sparked by the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling on August 1, which allows states to sub-classify Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) within reservation categories.
The ruling has led to widespread discontent among various groups, leading to the call for the Bharat Bandh. The court's decision stated that the authority responsible for determining whether a class is adequately represented must consider effective representation rather than merely quantitative measures.
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