New Delhi, Delhi, India

A mob of some 5,000 people set fire to the homes of two Dalit politicians in Rajasthan today. 

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The two politicians belong to the BJP and the Congress. 

Senior district official Abhimanyu Kumar told the Press Trust of India (PTI) that Legislator Rajkumari Jatav and ex-legislator Bharosilal Jatav were not in Hinduan town of Karauli district when their homes were attacked. 

Jatav was a minister in the previous Congress government. 

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News reports quoted Karauli Superintendent of Police Anil Kayal saying some 40 people had been detained in Hindaun after today's arson and violence. 

Today's protests, mostly by trader groups, are seen as a counter to yesterday's violence during the Bharat Bandh called by Dalit groups against a Supreme Court order that they allege dilutes the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.