Thousands gather at Jantar Mantar to protest Saharanpur violence

Ignoring Delhi Police's denial of permission, a large number of Dalit activists led by Bhim Army on Sunday protested here against the recent caste-based violence in Uttar Pradesh's Saharanpur.
 
The protesters, estimated to be around 5,000 gathered at Jantar Mantar, the dharna hotspot in the capital, in the morning and demanded that cases be registered against those who had perpetrated violence against Dalits on May 9. They also wanted that the families of the victims should be awarded compensation of Rs 10 lakh each.
 
The agitation was organised despite the city police denying permission on Saturday evening to the Saharanpur-based Bhim Army to stage the protest.
 
Saharanpur's Shabbirpur village witnessed clashes on May 5 after some Dalits refused to allow a procession by upper caste men to mark the birth anniversary of Rajput king Maharana Pratap.

The Dalit community attempted to hold a 'Mahapanchayat' four days later in Gandhi Park in Saharanpur to demand compensation and relief to those affected in the May 5 clashes. However, the administration refused to heed to the demand and this resulted in Dalits taking out to the streets.
 
Violence followed and Dalit protesters allegedly set fire to a police post and over a dozen two-wheelers.
 
Bhim Army founder Chandrashekhar, who is accused of sharing an objectionable video on social media and disrupting communal harmony in Saharanpur, was present at the Delhi protest.
 
The protesters demanded that the FIRs lodged against Chandrashekhar and other Dalit activists be cancelled. They also wanted a judicial probe into the incidents of clashes in Saharanpur.
 
Police said the protest went off peacefully amid tightened security. They claimed they denied permission to the protest as the organisers said the gathering would be close to 50,000, which Jantar Mantar cannot hold.