Bihar: Children on board, Mob Attempts to Set School Bus on Fire During Bharat Bandh
Bihar: Children on board ,Mob Attempts to Set School Bus on Fire During Bharat Bandh
In a disturbing incident during the Bharat bandh called by Dalit and Adivasi groups, a mob in Bihar’s Gopalganj attempted to set a school bus on fire while children were still on board. The event unfolded on Wednesday, prompting swift action from police and district administration to prevent a potential tragedy.
The Bharat bandh was organized in response to a recent Supreme Court ruling regarding reservation sub-classifications for Scheduled Castes. Protesters gathered in large numbers, blocking roads and setting tires ablaze. A video from the scene shows a yellow school bus surrounded by a mob wielding sticks, with one individual seen igniting a tire beneath the vehicle.
The situation escalated quickly, but the presence of law enforcement and district officials averted disaster. Gopalganj Superintendent of Police, Swarn Prabhat, confirmed that a high alert had been issued due to the bandh. He also stated that a significant police force, along with magistrates, had been stationed at key locations throughout the town to maintain order.
Prabhat revealed that several individuals involved in the incident were identified through drone surveillance. “I have directed the local police to file FIRs against those identified as troublemakers and to arrest those responsible for the attempted arson,” he told news agency.
Gopalganj experienced varying levels of disruption during the Bharat bandh. While some areas, such as National Highway 27 and certain railway tracks, saw significant protest activity, other roads remained relatively unaffected, allowing traffic to flow smoothly.
The Bharat bandh, led by Dalit organizations, was in response to the Supreme Court’s decision, which allows states to make sub-classifications within the Scheduled Castes to allocate reservations to those deemed more socially and educationally disadvantaged. The bandh has sparked significant unrest in several parts of Bihar, highlighting the deep divisions and tensions surrounding this issue.
