Ranchi: BJP's statewide bandh to protest against police action in support of students' movement in Jharkhand seemed effective on Tuesday. In many areas including Ranchi, BJP workers blocked roads and protested by burning tyres. Minor clashes also took place between police and protesters at many places. Police detained several protesting BJP and Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) workers.
A day earlier, the BJP had called for a bandh from 8 am to midnight in protest against the police action against students marching towards the Assembly. The party alleges that instead of listening to the demands of the students, the government used force. According to the police, BJP workers blocked the road near CMPDI gate on Kanke Road. Apart from this, traffic was also disrupted in Kishoreganj, Argora and Kanke areas. Protestors burnt tires near Nucleus Mall, Harmu Chowk and Kishoreganj Chowk.
Due to road blockage, vehicular movement was affected in many areas and common people had to face problems. The pictures surfaced during the protest also showed minor scuffles between policemen and BJP workers at some places.
ABVP workers detained during march
During the bandh, ABVP workers tried to take out a march from the old assembly building to the new assembly complex. The police stopped them from moving forward and detained many protesters. When the police started taking the protesters in buses, some workers sat on the road and started raising slogans. After this the police surrounded them and made them sit in police vehicles.
Jam on highway in Ramgarh for three hours
Apart from Ranchi, the effect of the bandh was also seen in Ramgarh district. BJP workers blocked Ranchi-Patna Highway i.e. NH-33 near Kuju. Since morning, a large number of workers gathered on the four-lane highway and sitting on the road raised slogans against the Hemant Soren government. Due to the road being closed for about three hours, long queues of vehicles formed on both sides of the highway. Later Kuju police reached the spot and opened the road. The police also detained some people supporting the bandh.
BJP raised questions on police action
Jharkhand BJP state president Aditya Sahu termed the police action against the students as 'atrocity'. They allege that the JMM-led government is using police force against the students instead of resolving their grievances. Schools and business establishments remained closed in Ranchi and many parts of the state during the BJP bandh. Less vehicles were seen on the roads than usual. The party said that essential services have been kept out of the bandh.
Students distanced themselves from political support
On the other hand, the agitating students have made it clear that their protest is not linked to any political party. Student leader Piyush said that anyone supporting their demands can stand with them, but the students are not supporting any political organization. He said that the aim of the movement is only to convey the demands of the students to the government and get them fulfilled. The students also made it clear that they want to talk to Chief Minister Hemant Soren regarding their demands.
Agitation increased regarding JPSC-JSSC exam
The students' movement in Jharkhand has been continuously intensifying for some time. Students are protesting against issues like alleged irregularities and question paper leaks in JPSC and JSSC examinations. On Monday, a large number of candidates had moved towards the assembly. The protesters crossed several barricades, leading to a confrontation between the police and the students. Police used tear gas and lathi charge to stop the crowd.
During the demonstration, some students expressed their views in a different way. One student was seen dressed as a gorilla, while another student was seen demonstrating without a shirt and holding a bowl in his hand. Ajay Mayanti, who came from Mumbai, participated in the performance as the lead character of the film 'Pushpa'. The protesters were successful in reaching three gates of the assembly, but were stopped at the fourth gate. After this, the police released tear gas shells and lathicharged to drive back the crowd.
Claim of injuries to protesters and policemen
Many protesters said they were injured during the movement. According to Ranchi Police, 14 policemen were injured in the clash. Police also used water cannon near Jagannathpur temple to stop the crowd moving towards the assembly. Student leader Devendra Nath Mahato, who was on hunger strike for nine days, was taken to the hospital on a stretcher after his health deteriorated. Later he was admitted. According to the office of Jharkhand Health Minister Dr. Irfan Ansari, his condition is currently stable and the danger has passed.
Late on Monday night, the Health Minister reached Ranchi Sadar Hospital without any protocol and security personnel. He met Devendra Nath Mahato and other protesting students admitted there. Now the main group of students will meet on Tuesday afternoon to decide the next strategy of the movement. The protesters say that their agitation will continue until there is no concrete dialogue on their demands from the government.