Gopalganj/IBNS: A school bus with several children on board was saved from a potentially fatal attack thanks to the timely intervention of police in Bihar's Gopalganj on Wednesday as a mob tried to set the vehicle on fire.

The mob tried to ablaze the bus during the Bharat Bandh called by ‘Reservation Bachao Sangharsh Samiti’ in response to the Supreme Court’s ruling on SC/ST reservations.

However, the Gopalganj police and district administration thwarted the attempt.

Visuals showed the yellow bus surrounded by a mob armed with sticks.

A man was seen burning a tyre right under the bus. Several burning tyres were seen scattered on the road on which the bus was trying to pass.

Another video showed some men stopping a bike, with a woman riding a pillion, which tried to pass through the area.

Gopalganj Superintendent of Police Swarn Prabhat said a high alert was issued and a large police force and magistrates were deployed at various locations in the town over the Bharat Bandh call.

He mentioned that the police have identified a few individuals who were creating trouble through drone cameras. "I have instructed the police station to file FIRs against the identified troublemakers and send those who attempted to set the bus on fire to jail," he said.

Even though the town reported some incidents of violence, the Bharat Bandh call evoked a mixed response in Gopalganj. While some vehicles were seen on the road, some protesters caused disruptions along National Highway 27 and the railway tracks.

What is the Supreme Court ruling on SC/ST reservations?

The Supreme Court ruling, that triggered the Bharat Bandh, allowed states to create sub-categories within the SC and ST groups.

It stated that those who need it should get priority in the reservation.

This decision is widely opposed by several political and social organisations who argue that the ruling undermines the purpose and principles of having reservations in place.