Bharat Bandh: Mob in India’s Bihar tries to set on fire school bus carrying children. Shocking video
India, on August 21 (Wednesday) saw protests erupt across the nation as part of Bharat Bandh, a nationwide strike, in protest against a recent Supreme Court ruling that approved the subclassification of Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs). These demonstrations, as per reports, turned particularly intense in Bihar’s Patna and Gopalganj.
In Gopalganj, police intervention prevented a potentially dangerous and tragic situation when a mob almost set a school bus ferrying children on fire during the Bharat Bandh.
Meanwhile, in Bihar, the clashes led to a notable incident: a Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) was accidentally struck by a baton during a police lathi-charge. A video of this incident has gone viral online.
Gopalganj school bus incident
In Gopalganj, Bihar, an angry mob, as per reports, tried to light a school bus on fire. The bus had several children on board when tragic consequences were foiled in the nick of time.
As per a NDTV report, the bus was surrounded by the mob armed with sticks. A man was seen burning tires on the road near the vehicle, many of which were scattered on the road the bus was trying to cross.
Thankfully, prompt action by the police and district administration averted disaster.
In the guise of Bharat Bandh, the protestors tried to BURN a SCHOOL BUS with 35 SCHOOL STUDENTS onboard in Gopalganj, Bihar.
Ecosystem is trying hard to push BHARAT into a CIVIL WAR. pic.twitter.com/KuUr3WUU1J
— Sanalkumar (@SANALNAIR_) August 21, 2024
Superintendent of Police, Swarn Prabhat, reported that the police, using drone cameras, identified key troublemakers and would be filing FIRs against them.
“I have instructed the police station to file FIRs against the identified troublemakers and send those who attempted to set the bus on fire to jail,” he said.
SDM lathi charge video goes viral
A video that is going viral on social media shows a chaotic scene as police attempt to disperse protesters. While doing so, the video shows, the police inadvertently hitting the SDM—who was dressed casually and thus not easily identifiable as an official.
Social media users have reacted to the viral video with a mix of confusion and humour.
One user while posting the video on X (formerly Twitter) wrote, “Lathicharge in Patna during Bharat Bandh. Policemen mistakenly hit SDM with lathi.”
भारत बंद के दौरान पटना में लाठीचार्ज। पुलिस वालों से गलती से SDM को ही लाठी मार दिया
pic.twitter.com/mHARMWx7bF
— Narendra Nath Mishra (@iamnarendranath) August 21, 2024
Another user commented, “#Patna lathi-charge was being done in Patna on the order of SDM. Bihar police obeyed the order and attacked SDM with lathi unknowingly because SDM was in casual dress”.
In contrast, some comments speculated the incident was deliberate. Others just poked fun.
Deputy SP Ashok Kumar Singh, in a conversation with ANI, defended the police action and insisted that force was necessary to maintain order.
“The common people could not travel, and we tried to convince them (agitators),” Singh said.
Calling the lathi-charge “mild force” he added that protesters “did not understand. We had to use mild force to move them back.”
Why was the Bharat Bandh call given?
The Bharat Bandh, organised by various Dalit groups, was in protest against the Supreme Court’s August 1 decision, allowing states to sub-classify SCs and STs for reservation purposes. Critics argue this decision undermines the foundational principles established by the landmark Indira Sawhney case, which set the framework for India’s reservation system.
(With inputs from agencies)
Moohita Kaur Garg
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