Jharkhand: Ranchi remains bandh in protest against murder of BJP leader Tiger Anil Mahto, many schools, markets closed

 

Supporters of BJP, All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) party and other organizations took to the streets on Thursday to protest against the murder of a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader in Jharkhand's capital Ranchi and a nine-hour bandh called by them began in the state capital.

BJP's Ranchi Rural District General Secretary Anil Mahto Tiger was shot dead in Ranchi in broad daylight on Wednesday. He was also a former Zila Parishad member. Workers holding party flags demonstrated in various areas including Harmu, Dhurva and Piska Mor of Ranchi since morning.

BJP leaders protested against this murder, police took them into preventive custody. SP City-Ranchi Raj Kumar Mehta says, "We are trying to restore normalcy here and open shops because imposing a 'bandh' is not a constitutional right."

In this regard, party spokesperson Pradeep Sinha said, "We have called for a nine-hour bandh till 5 pm in protest against the deteriorating law and order situation in the state and the killing of Anil Mahato Tiger." Jharkhand Krantikari Loktantrik Morcha, Central Sarna Committee and some other organizations have also supported the bandh.

Ranchi district BJP leaders detained

The police have detained Ranchi district BJP leaders during the protest. SP City-Ranchi Raj Kumar Mehta said, "Police action is underway in the case. There is no place for criminals here."

Condemning the murder, BJP leader Pratul Shahdeo said, "It is very unfortunate. Ranchi is becoming the crime capital. Just 25 meters away from Police Station, in broad daylight, a public representative was killed...today Police are here to detain me...I wish the Police had shown this effort when bullets were fired at him..."

Tiger was BJP's Ranchi rural district general secretary. He was also a former zila parishad member.

On March 26, motorbike-borne gunmen gunned down Tiger at Kanke Chowk in the capital. Jharkhand DGP Anurag Gupta saidI, "The incident is unfortunate. I knew Anil Tiger personally. The killers would be caught soon."

BJP state president Babulal Marandi demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Hemant Soren alleging that law and order had collapsed in the state.

I cannot remain a mute spectator: Union Minister

Meanwhile, today Union Minister of State for Defense Sanjay Seth protested against the killing of BJP leader Anil Tiger in Ranchi along with BJP leaders and workers. He said, "Being a public representative, I cannot remain a mute spectator. Ranchi has become the capital of crime. The rule of law has collapsed in the Hemant Soren government. This is jungle raj. I say that the 'Yogi' model should be implemented here. In the morning, the DSP here came to my residence. I do not need security or I do not need to sit in the guest house, because I am a public representative." 

In view of the bandh, most of the schools in the city remained closed today. The number of vehicles on the roads in the morning was also less than on other days. The Ranchi administration has made elaborate security arrangements to maintain law and order and has appealed to the protesters to observe the bandh peacefully.

Prakash Kumar Pandey