J'khand bandh disrupts city life, biz incur losses
Ranchi: A statewide Jharkhand Bandh called by several tribal organisations brought parts of Ranchi to a standstill on Wednesday, with the epicentre of protest being the controversial ramp of the Siramtoli flyover.
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Protesters alleged that the ramp has encroached upon a Sarna religious site and demanded its immediate removal, citing it as an attack on indigenous identity and sacred traditions.
Hundreds of protestors, led by outfits such as the Adivasi Bachao Morcha, marched from Line Tank Road to Albert Ekka Chowk and called on the shopkeepers to down their shutters.
The 12-hour bandh, which began at 6 am, disrupted traffic in Lalpur, Dibdih, and Kutchery Chowk, while roadblocks and demonstrations occurred at Piska More and Jail More.
In Kanke, effigies were burnt as a symbolic protest. In Boreya, tyres were set ablaze to block roads. Police personnel baton-charged on demonstrators to disperse them from Hinoo Chowk in a bid to clear the road. The demonstrators at least four people were hurt in the lathi charge.
Ranchi's business community also bore the brunt of the statewide bandh with Paresh Gattani, president of Federation of Jharkhand Chamber of Commerce and Industries, estimating that losses ran to the tune of Rs 100 crore.
"We have been raising this issue for months now. This government has failed the Adivasis. Our places of worship are being bulldozed in the name of development. We demand the ramp's removal immediately," said Bablu Munda, president of Kendriya Sarna Samiti.
Ranchi sub-divisional officer Utkarsh Kumar said, "Emergency services were fully functional. At Hinoo Chowk, the protesters were being removed only to allow the smooth passage of passengers. There was minimal use of force to ensure mobility,"
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