The United Opposition took Ranchi under siege that hit the capital as hundreds of protesters cutting across party lines spilled over into city's streets to vent their ire against the proposed land Acquisition Bill and demanded rollback of the proposed law. Normal life came to a near standstill throughout the day. The one-day bandh was called by the Opposition parties against the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Government at the Centre for taking Ordinance route to put the land acquisition Bill into effect and stressed on scrapping the proposed law completely. Friends for a cause, opposition parties labelled the Bill as detrimental to the interests of farmers.
"The bandh has been complete, very successful and people have made it successful. If they (Union Government) say that the farmers are willing to hand over their land, then what is the need for introducing the BillIJ" said Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM) president, Babulal Marandi. Besides the JVM, the bandh was supported by Rashtriya Janta Dal, Communist Party of India and various Adivasi groups active under different banners.
As many as 70 people -- 50 from urban areas and 20 from rural areas-- were taken under custody for violating injunctions issued for the bandh. Among those arrested included Bandhu Tirkey and his supporters. Minor incidents of arson, sloganeering and protests were reported in different localities as police were on their toes to prevent the situation to go out of their hand. "No major incidents have been reported from anywhere. By and large the bandh was peaceful. Tirkey was released in the evening," said Ranchi SSP Prabhat Kumar.
The CPI claimed that around 150 workers of the JD(U), the RJD and the CPI were detained for blocking national highways. However, they were released subsequently on personal bonds. Train services were also hit during the bandh. Around 800 policemen were stationed at important squares and assigned patrolling duty besides, 200 policemen were kept on standby to prevent situation from taking an ugly turn. As many as 145 magistrates were also put on alert during the bandh hour on Monday.
Earlier, protesters of all parties hit the street with posters and banners, forced auto-rickshaws to suspend operations and passenger services to other parts of Jharkhand from Ranchi to suspend operations. Over two dozen schools suspended academic activities due to the magnitude of the bandh. long distance buses were stranded at Kantatoli and Itki bus depot, unusual silence gripped Railway station and otherwise bustling streets of Ranchi. It was an almost total shutdown of business activities as shops and shopping malls in all parts of the capital did not open till late in the evening.