RANCHI: The district administration held several rounds of meeting to discuss measures to restore peace in Chanho area of rural Ranchi that witnessed violent clashes on Tuesday.
Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) called for a daylong bandh on Thursday to protest against the spar. The public schools in the city would remain closed for the next two days in the wake of another bandh call by tribal organizations on Friday.
Tension prevailed in Chanho police station area on Wednesday after a minor scuffle over a plot of land led to violent clashes. Office of the sub-divisional magistrate clamped prohibition orders under section 144 of the IPC for the time being. Ranchi SDO Amit Kumar said the clashes of Tuesday led to one death and four dozen injuries. “Chances of another scuffle was high on Wednesday but the situation has been brought under control,” he said, while camping at Chanho.
Leader of opposition Arjun Munda visited Silagai village in Chanho on Wednesday and assured support to the family members of the victims.
Condemning the incident, chief minister Hemant Soren said no one involved in instigating violence will be spared. “It is the responsibility of the local administration to identify the anti-social elements who have tried to disrupt harmony,” he said.
While the administration is yet to make arrests in this regard, state office bearer of VHP, Pranav Kumar Babbu said they have called for a peaceful bandh on Thursday from 8 in the morning. “Bajrang Dal has extended support to us along with Chadri Sarna Samity, Hindu Jagaran Manch and Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi parished (ABVP),” he said.
BJP state president Ravindra Rai blamed it on administrative failure. “We are extremely concerned over the way the administration handled the situation,” he said.
Issuing a joint press statement, left parties, comprising CMP, CPI, CPIML and MCC, protested the bandh call and demanded government to compensate the families of the victims with Rs 10 lakh exgratia and government job.
“No organisation should be allowed to seek political mileage out of a sad incident and every effort to disrupt harmony must be protested,” the joint press release said.