In protest against Dalits booked for rioting with regard to the Bharat Bandh violence on April 2, Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar went on an indefinite hunger strike in Saharanpur jail on Saturday.

“He was extremely upset and perturbed after the Dalits were booked in false cases in different parts of the country post-violence,” said Kamal Singh Walia, Bhim Army’s Saharanpur President.

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“The chief is demanding an immediate withdrawal of cases against Dalits and will end his strike only after the decision is taken up,” said Walia.

Chandrashekhar alias Raavan is in the Saharanpur jail ever since he was arrested in connection with violence in Saharanpur last year after the Dalit-Thakur clash in Shabeerpur and nearby areas of the district.

After the violence on April 2 during the Bharat Bandh call of Dalit organisations to mark their protest against the decision of the Supreme Court on the SC/ST Act, many demonstrators were arrested. On Friday, a delegation of Bhim Army, including Delhi coordinator Sanjeev,

Delhi in-charge advocate Sujeet Samrat and patron Balakram Baudh met Chandrashekhar in Saharanpur jail and briefed him on the violence.

Chandrasekhar hence decided to go on hunger strike, demanding the withdrawal of cases.

The Bhim Army office-bearers and Chandrashekhar had intimated the decision of indefinite hunger strike to jail superintendent, Walia said. But Viresh Raj, the Superintendent of Saharanpur Jail, said that he did not get any application regarding the hunger strike.

The Bhim Army came into limelight in May last year when its activists and leaders blamed police and administration for bias in initiating action against accused of caste violence in Shabbeerpur and Sarak Doodhli villages of Saharanpur. They had declared to organise a Dalit mahapanchayat to raise the issue but the administration denied permission, which led to widespread violence and confrontation with administration and police.

Many office-bearers of Bhim Army were arrested and later their chief Chandrashekhar was also arrested from Dalhousie in Himachal Pradesh under the NSA.