Ranchi erupts: Roads blocked, tyres burned over crackdown on student protesters
BJP workers burned tyres and blocked roads at several places in Ranchi on Tuesday as the party enforced a statewide bandh over police action against
BJP workers burned tyres and blocked roads at several places in Ranchi on Tuesday as the party enforced a statewide bandh over police action against job aspirants during their march to the state Assembly a day earlier. According to the police, BJP workers blocked roads near the CMPDI gate on Kanke Road and in Kishorganj, Argora and Kanke areas, while tyres were burnt near Nucleus Mall, Harmu Chowk and Kishorganj Chowk, disrupting traffic and affecting normal life. Read Full Story The shutdown, called by the Jharkhand BJP from 8 am to midnight, came a day after police used water cannons, tear gas and batons to disperse protesters marching towards the Assembly. BJP state president Aditya Sahu described the action as "atrocities" against students and accused the JMM-led government of using force instead of addressing their grievances. Most schools and business establishments remained closed, while vehicular movement was low in Ranchi and several other parts of the state today. Essential services were kept outside the purview of the bandh, Sahu said.
Meanwhile, the protesting students have maintained that their agitation is not linked to any political party. Student leader Piyush said the protesters would welcome anyone supporting their demands but would not endorse any political organisation. "We are not explicitly endorsing any specific party. If someone calls for a shutdown in our support, we welcome it, but we students have no connection to politics or political parties," Piyush said. "We simply stand in support of our own demands. We have only one agenda: getting our demands met." The students' core group is scheduled to meet at noon on Tuesday to decide the next course of action, with protesters saying they will only hold talks with Chief Minister Hemant Soren. The students' agitation over alleged irregularities and paper leaks in JPSC and JSSC examinations has intensified in recent weeks. On Monday, thousands of aspirants marched towards the Assembly, breached multiple barricades and clashed with police. The protesters had adopted unusual methods to draw attention to their demands, with one student appearing in a gorilla costume and another marching shirtless with a bowl in his hand.
Ajay Mayanti, who travelled from Mumbai, joined the protest dressed as the lead character from the film Pushpa. The protesters managed to cross three Assembly gates before police stopped them at the fourth gate. Police used tear gas and resorted to a lathi charge to disperse the crowd. Some protesters were seen dancing after tear gas shells were fired. Devendra Nath Mahto, who had been on a hunger strike for nine days, was taken away on a stretcher. His condition is currently reported to be stable and out of danger, according to the Jharkhand Health Minister Dr Irfan Ansari's office. Several protesters claimed they were injured, while Ranchi Police said 14 personnel were injured during the clashes. Police used water cannons near Jagannathpur Temple as the protesters advanced towards the Assembly. Meanwhile, Jharkhand Health Minister Dr Irfan Ansari visited Sadar Hospital in Ranchi late on Monday night without protocol or security personnel and met student leader Devendra Nath Mahto and other protesters who were admitted following the day-long demonstration outside the state Assembly.
The BriefWire