The one-day nationwide strike call by dalits and adivasi communities led to partial disruption in rail and road services in Jharkhand on Wednesday with most of the business establishments remaining closed.
The Aarakshan Bachao Sangharsh Samiti had called for a Bharat Bandh in protest against a Supreme Court decision on Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (SC-ST) reservation. The impact of Bharat Bandh was seen in Ranchi this morning. Various tribal and Moolvalsi groups come out on the streets to enforce Bharat Bandh. The protestors assembled in front of Albert Ekka Chowk on Main Road. Other protesters including Upendra Rajak, president of the Coordination Committee of SC ST, said that the Supreme Court's decision has divided the SC-ST people. 85 percent of the country's population is opposing the Supreme Court's decision.
Most of the shops in the capital were closed, and groups of leaders from different parties came out on the streets with flags and banners to make the bandh successful. All services except emergency services were called for shutting down. Since morning, workers of JMM, Congress, Left parties and social organizations come out on the streets to shut down the cities.
The movement of vehicles on the roads was thin. Passengers have to return due to non-operation of government buses, autos and passenger vehicles. As precautionary measures most of the schools in the Capital had already announced to remain closed.
Ranchi's Kerali School, DPS, JVM Shyamli, all schools of DAV Group, Oxford Public School, Sacred Heart School, Bishop School, Surendranath Centenary School, Saint Thomas School Dhurwa, Loreto School, Vivekananda Vidya Mandir School Dhurva and other schools had announced to keep the school closed due to Bharat Bandh.
Mixed reactions were also observed in Jamshedpur. The bandh was supported by the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), which added momentum to the movement in the region.
The blockade of key entry and exit points leading out of the city significantly disrupted vehicular movement, particularly on NH 33 at Dimna Chowk and Kandrabeda Road. In Baharagora, NH 18 was completely blocked, preventing vehicles from West Bengal and Odisha from entering Jharkhand.
Despite the widespread disruption, essential services, including hospitals, ambulances, and medical stores, were allowed to operate unhindered. Schools in the city remained open, though attendance was reportedly lower than usual due to concerns over safety.
Train services and public transportation remained unaffected. Long distance buses from the Sitaramdera bus terminus left for various destinations but with less number of passengers.
A senior functionary of Jharkhand Bus Owners Association said, "The turnout of passengers for various destinations including Ranchi was less today. People avoided travelling because of the bandh call," said Sharma adding that ticket sales for various destinations registered a 40-50 per cent drop. All trains from Tatanagar railway station left at its scheduled departure time. “We took all precautions to tackle bandh supporters but no one turned up at the railway station. Deployment of RPF and GRP jawans were made in adequate numbers at the station and its circulating areas," said an official at Tatanagar.
Schools, colleges, banks and other business establishments remained open. Pool cars ferrying school children stayed away from roads fearing untoward incidents. “We decided not to ferry school children as we did not want to take risks. We had communicated this to our parents yesterday," said Sunny Singh, a van operator at Sakchi. Mixed response has been reported of Bharat bandh here in coal capital with coal production by coal companies remaining almost normal. Coal company sources said the company achieved its daily production target as most of the mines remained operative. Movement of traffic on GT Road has been reported as usual.
Meanwhile, protesters including members of JMM, Congress and other political outfits marched on city roads in the middle of the city to vent their anger. This affected traffic and closure of shops in select areas but after that shops opened in the noon.
Jmm leader AK Sahay who led one of the protests vehemently criticised BJP leaders for their game plan to destabilize the Hemant government and attempt to snatch reservation of ST SC community . Same were the views of Congress leaders who too organised separate protest marches.
A total of 59 Bharat Bandh supporters were detained under section 170 of the Bhartiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita 2024 today in Daltonganj.
SDPO Sadar Mani Bhushan Prasad confirming this 59 detention under section 170 of the BNSS said they would be let off in the evening. SDPO Sadar said the Bandh passed off peacefully and incident free.
