The nation witnessed massive protests against the Supreme Court’s dilution of the SC/ST Act. In media footage, people were seen pelting stones on government offices and vandalizing several shops and public transports. Video footage by ABP news from Gwalior revealed an unidentified man firing shots when protesters were marching.

Identity Of Shooting Man In The Video

According to ANI, Raja Chauhan, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) worker, was booked for firing during the protest at Madhya Pradesh’s Gwalior. The image of the man is widespread on social media where he can be seen shooting openly when others are raising slogans.

Devashish Jarariya, a BSP member, claimed that Raja has allegedly killed three Dalits and turned the bandh into caste violence. He tweeted, “The person who’s firing from his pistol is Raja Chouhan from Gwalior. He turned Bharat Bandh into caste violence and killed three Dalits.”

“I was able to identify Raja as he was my school classmate. His actions were meant to spread violence during the protest,” said Jarariya to ABP News.

In the same video, some people can be heard saying ‘Jai Shri Ram, Jai Shri Ram’. It is still strange that such slogans were raised in Dalit protests that usually witness of ‘Jai Bhim’ (referring to Dr BR Ambedkar) being raised.

What led to agitation

On March 20, the Supreme Court issued a directive saying that action against public servants accused of hostility towards SC/ST would be taken only with written permission from appointing authorities. Also, action against accused private citizens would be taken only if the concerned Senior Superintendent of police allows. Besides this, the bench of Justices AK Goel and UU Lalit ruled that a preliminary inquiry should be conducted before the FIR is registered to check if the case falls under the parameters of the Atrocities Act or if it is frivolous or motivated.

Dalit groups across the country feel that the Supreme Court’s order, which bans automatic arrest and registration of cases for alleged harassment of SCs and STs, will dilute the Prevention of Atrocities Act, 1989 which aims to protect the marginalised.