Communal tension kept Ranchi under siege on Saturday as violent protests and fear of communal clashes haunted Ranchiites for the entire day after Friday night’s agitation following recovery of ‘banned meat’ outside a temple in Doranda snowballed into a riot like situation thus pushing the Government machinery into action to keep the situation under control.
A bandh reportedly called by a radical organisation resulted in arson and sabotage at many places in the city. Police were on their toes since Friday midnight after tension started building up and imposed Section 144 to prevent assembling of people in certain parts of the city. The bandh was effective in Main Road, Doranda, Hinoo, Birsa Chowk and Dhurwa areas as roads were deserted and shops were closed everywhere in the city.
Violent incidents marked the beginning of Saturday as protesters closed the gate at Birsa Chowk cutting some part of the city from other parts and burned tyres to block traffic at MG Marg. A number of people, including scribes sustained injuries as also some policemen who tried to repel people resorting to violent means of protest on Friday evening. The official vehicle of City SP Jay Roy was also damaged as it came under attack from a mob. One person, who is yet to be identified, reportedly sustained bullet injury in a firing incident that took place in Doranda on Saturday morning.
Even as the city was burning, Chief Minister Raghubar Das came out to mollify agitators and requested people to express solidarity instead of animosity. Das stopped at several places as he took stock of situation in the sensitive areas. Director General of Police DK Pandey and ADG, Provision, SN Pradhan also accompanied the CM on the peace mission.
Das said the Government will take stern actions against people disrupting social harmony as religious and social solidarity is the culture of Ranchi. People should not pay heeds to rumours and report attempts made to sabotage social harmony to the police, added Das.
The CM also assured that the police will honourably release innocents arrested during preventive actions taken by the police and the government would also bear medical expenses of those who will sustain injury during the actions taken.
Meanwhile, simmering tension forced the district administration to take around 60 people under preventive detention and deploy three companies of Central Reserve Police Force, one company of SSB and two companies of STF at Sarjana Chowk, Kali Mandir Chowk, Sujata Chowk, Doranda Chowk, Hinu Chowk, Birsa Chowk and the ground zero, Manitola in Doranda. Around 200 policemen were stationed to maintain law and order in Ranchi.
“Those who have been taken under preventive detention are still under detention. Further arrests would be made if any FIR is lodged. Situation is under control and Section 144 will remain in effect,” said Ranchi SSP Prabhat Kumar.
Moreover, senior district and police officials camped at sensitive places as most of the officials placed the city under continuous surveillance to resist further attempts to foment trouble.
The incident reportedly happened on Friday night when few people spotted ‘banned meat’ outside a temple in Doranda and burned tires on the street in a fit of rage. The miscreants pelted stones on scribes and also on policemen when they were being chased away from the streets. The incident invited attention of Hindu outfits that enforced bandh from Saturday morning.
Several schools were closed and the parents of students had to rush to take back their kids from the schools as the school management could not send the buses on the predetermined routes due to fear of violence.
A peace committee meeting was also conducted by Ranchi DC, SSP, district administration officials and representatives of social organisations, religious heads in the evening to discuss means and ways to normalise the situation.
An examination being conducted by the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission on Sunday was also postponed in the wake of the incidents.