Mistaken Identity in the Heat of Protest
In Patna, a troubling incident occurred during the Bharat Bandh protests on August 21, 2024. Shrikant Kundlik Khandekar, an SDM in civil clothes, was mistakenly lathi-charged by a policeman. The chaos of the day’s demonstrations led to this error as the SDM was mistaken for a bandh supporter. In a video that went viral, the SDM was seen being struck by the policeman before his colleagues intervened, explaining the mistake.
A Day of Disruption and Misunderstanding
The Bharat Bandh, a nationwide shutdown called by the ‘Reservation Bachao Sangharsh Samiti,’ aimed to protest against a Supreme Court ruling on reservation policies. The protests turned violent in Patna, where demonstrators breached barricades and clashed with police. To control the situation, the police used water cannons and lathi-charged the crowd, leading to the unfortunate mistake involving the SDM.
Protests and Their Impact
The Bharat Bandh was observed across several states, with the highest impact seen in Bihar, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. The bandh was a response to an August 1 Supreme Court ruling that allowed states to sub-classify Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The ruling aimed to provide quotas to more backward castes within these groups, which some groups saw as a threat to existing reservations and equity.
Supreme Court Ruling Sparks Outrage
The Supreme Court’s ruling, led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, has sparked significant controversy. Protesters, led by the Reservation Bachao Sangharsh Samiti, demanded the reversal of the ruling and called for increased representation and equity for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes. They also called for new legislation on reservations and the release of caste-based employment data.
Responses and Reactions Across India
In Punjab and Haryana, the Bharat Bandh did not have a significant impact. Most public services and businesses operated normally. Protests occurred in specific locations, such as Phagwara and Jalandhar, but were limited in scope. Educational institutions in some areas closed as a precaution, while others remained open.