Several BJP workers detained after scuffle with police in J’khand’s Giridih

Scuffle and detentions in Giridih

A scuffle broke out between police and BJP workers on Saturday when party supporters attempted to burn an effigy of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren in Giridih, an official said. Fifteen BJP workers were detained, while around 90 others courted arrest, according to Giridih Sub-Divisional Magistrate Dhirendra Kumar.

Led by BJP town president Ranjeet Rai, the party workers took out a procession from Jhanda Ground towards Tower Chowk, carrying an effigy of the chief minister, in the Town police station area. BJP workers alleged that police seized the effigy from them, leading to the scuffle.

"We detained 15 persons from the spot. Later, about 90 people courted arrest. They were, however, released later," Kumar told PTI.

Later, some activists took out another effigy bearing a photograph of the chief minister and burnt it near Tower Chowk, while another effigy was burnt near Giridih Sadar Hospital.

Rai said the effigy-burning protest was organised against the alleged assault on students by JMM activists in Giridih on Friday.

Protests over recruitment exams

The protests stem from ongoing agitation over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC). Political tensions in Jharkhand intensified after skirmishes broke out when members of the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch attempted to burn effigies of Chief Minister Hemant Soren and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Friday evening.

Protesters accused the state government of not effectively defending its decision to cancel 22 recruitment examinations in the High Court. The protest was organised following a call by the JPSC-JSSC Reform Forum, which had appealed to students to burn effigies of the Chief Minister across all 24 districts of Jharkhand in protest against the High Court's decision. Students gathered at Gandhi Maidan carrying an effigy of the Jharkhand Chief Minister as part of the protest.

In Ranchi, city Deputy Superintendent of Police KV Raman stated that police had to resort to mild force after protesters allegedly violated the route designated by the police administration during a demonstration in the city.

Allegations and counter-allegations

Protesters claimed that Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) workers physically assaulted them, snatched their effigies, and targeted women during peaceful rallies. Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly and BJP leader Babulal Marandi condemned the attacks on students, claiming that JMM workers attacked them in various districts of Jharkhand, calling the incidents "shameful" and "reprehensible." He said the BJP strongly opposed the incidents and accused the Chief Minister of crossing all limits in the "arrogance of power."

Addressing a press conference in Giridih, Marandi alleged that JMM workers chased and assaulted students at Jhanda Maidan in Giridih. He claimed similar incidents were reported in Hazaribagh, Ranchi and other places, alleging that JMM workers armed with sticks had created a reign of terror. Marandi, who was Jharkhand's first chief minister, said attempts to suppress students' voices through sticks and force amounted to an attack on democracy and warned that the alleged "hooliganism" would be strongly resisted.

JMM national general secretary Mithilesh Kumar Thakur accused the BJP of instigating the burning of Chief Minister Hemant Soren's effigy, alleging that the act was carried out in defiance of a judicial order. "Everyone has the right to express their views. Effigies of the Chief Minister and ministers have been burnt in the past as well. However, today this was done at the behest of the BJP and in defiance of a judicial order. Attempts are being made to take the law into one's own hands, and we oppose this," he said.

Thakur also said that people would launch a major protest against the MMDR Act and claimed that the movement would "shake the foundations" of the Central Government. "These people are being sent to divert attention from this issue," he added.

Silent protest in Hazaribag

Meanwhile, hundreds of students in Hazaribag district took out a 'silent procession' in protest against the alleged lathi-charge by police on Friday. The procession began at Gandhi Maidan and culminated at District More. During the protest, the students offered roses to police personnel.

"Offering roses was aimed at sending out a message that the protest will continue even if police resort to lathi-charge or use water cannon," a protester said.