Normal life in Ranchi was affected as tribal outfits under the joint banner of Adivasi Jharkhand Janadhikar Manch (AJJM) and Adivasi Chatra Sangh took to the streets defying prohibitory orders to protest the reservation policy announced by the state government on Thursday. They gave a call for Jharkhand Bandh on Saturday demanding 60 per cent reservation in state government jobs for tribals.
The protesters, shouting anti-government slogans, were stopped by district administration at Birsa Chawk. They turned violent on their way back and smashed windscreens of several vehicles and vandalised some shops. Panic prevailed in the area and shops in the main market area downed shutters. There was heavy deployment of RAF and police personnel across the state capital in view of the perception that violence could erupt during the procession.
When contacted, city Senior Superintendent of Police Neeraj Sinha said he was not authorised to comment on the law and order scenario in the state capital. Soon after the cabinet decision on Thursday, the AJJM held an emergency meeting to announce a Jharkhand bandh on Saturday in protest against the quota of reservation accorded to Scheduled Tribes. The Adivasi Chatra Sangh had also announced its active support to the AJMM sponsored bandh.
The AJJM is a conglomerate of several political and non- political outfits, including the ruling BJP and the RJD, and is led by BJP MP from Mayurbhanj in Orissa Salkhan Murmu. The government had decided to reserve 32 per cent of government jobs for STS, 14 per cent for SCS, 18 per cent for Most Backward Classes and nine per cent for Backward Classes.
Bureau Report