Jharkhand Adivasi Sangharsh Morcha has called a dawn-to-dusk bandh on Friday against the amendments made by the State Government in various provisions of the Chhotanagur Tenancy Act (CNT) and Santhal Pargana Tenancy (SPT) Act. The Bills were cleared by the Assembly on November 23 amidst huge protests by the Opposition.
The Congress, left parties and the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM) have also extended support to the shutdown.
Meanwhile, the district administration has decided to arrest and lodge an FIR against those protesting on Main Road following the rampage created during Jharkhand bandh called by the Opposition Friday last.
The administration has already installed CCTV cameras and has also made arrangements for on the spot videography to identify the protesters.
“Permanent warrants have also been obtained against some of the identified persons who might create disturbances during the bandh. They will be arrested and forwarded soon if they take to the streets tomorrow,” said Ranchi DC Manoj Kumar. Proceedings of Section 107 have already been initiated against 300-400 people who have been identified creating disturbances during the bandh on Friday last, he added.
“In addition to that, a close vigil will be kept on the tribal hostels and no gathering will be allowed by the students anywhere in the city,” said the DC. Extra forces have already been deployed around these hostels since Thursday, he added.
The DC said that the hostel wardens during the meeting held on Wednesday and Thursday have also been told not to allow their students to go out of it or action will be taken against them also. To check the movement of crowd during bandh, extra barricading has also been done at several locations all over the state capital, he said.
On the directions issued by SSP Kuldeep Dwivedi, mock drills were also performed where officers were trained in firing tear gas and spraying water cannons on the crowd.
Meanwhile, a circular has also been issued to the district police all over the state to deal firmly with the protesters and ensure videography of protesters during bandh.
“A direction has been issued to the district headquarters to deal with protesters firmly and also take preventive measures to deal with rampage and arsoning during the bandh,” said IG (Operations) and Jharkhand Police Spokesperson MS Bhatia.
Bhatia further added that as many as 4000 additional police force along with 3700 home guards have been provided to the police all over the state for Friday. “Two companies of Rapid Action Force and Rapid Action Police each will also be deployed as per the requirement,” he said.