Bandh over 'baton charge' on tribals evokes lukewarm response in Jharkhand

Chaibasa/Seraikela, Oct 29 (PTI) The 12-hour bandh, called by the Jharkhand BJP in three districts to protest against alleged baton charge on tribals, evoked a lukewarm response on Wednesday with schools, offices and business establishments functioning as usual and normal vehicular movement noticed, officials said.

Supporters of the BJP took out rallies in the region to enforce the bandh, but their attempts were foiled, West Singhbhum Superintendent of Police (SP) Amit Renu told PTI.

The bandh from 6 am to 6 pm in West Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharsawan districts of the Kolhan region had been called by the state BJP to protest against the alleged baton-charge on tribals during a demonstration in Chaibasa town on Monday night.

“A few persons took out rallies in support of the bandh, but their attempt was foiled. Traffic movement has been normal, and schools and other institutions are open as usual,” the SP said.

No violence has been reported in the district, and there has been no preventive arrest, he said.

The long-distance buses plied in lesser numbers, but the transport remained largely unaffected, the police officer said.

In the neighbouring Seraikela-Kharsawan district, the effect of the bandh was negligible.

“There is not much impact of the bandh in the district as local traffic and long-distance buses plied as usual. There has been no road blockade or disturbances by bandh supporters,” Seraikela-Kharswan Superintendent of Police (SP) Mukesh Kumar Lunayat told PTI.

The Jharkhand BJP, however, claimed that the bandh was a “complete success”.

“The general masses and the business community have supported the bandh,” the party’s state president, Babulal Marandi, said in a statement.

“The lathicharge was an attack on the tradition of democracy and an attempt to crush tribal voices,” it added. PTI ANB BS BDC RBT