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West Singhbhum district in Jharkhand experienced a widespread shutdown on Wednesday, following a ‘Kolhan Bandh’ called by the BJP in protest against a recent lathicharge incident targeting tribal individuals. Streets in Chaibasa and surrounding areas like Chakradharpur, Jagannathpur, and Sonua remained deserted, significantly disrupting daily life. Most businesses remained closed throughout the morning, with BJP activists taking to the streets to voice their dissent against the local administration and the state government. The protest stems from a violent clash that erupted on Monday night. Protesters had surrounded the residence of Transport Minister Deepak Birua, demanding ‘no entry’ restrictions on NH-220 and the Chaibasa bypass road. Tensions escalated at Tambo Chowk, leading to a police lathicharge and tear gas deployment to control the crowd, which also resorted to stone-pelting. The confrontation resulted in injuries to 11 police personnel, including an SDPO, and several protesters. Authorities have registered an FIR against 74 named individuals and 500 unidentified persons, leading to the arrest of 15 people, including five women.
The BJP has intensified its protest, condemning the police action as ‘inhumane’ and an ‘anti-tribal’ move. Conversely, the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) has accused former Chief Ministers Champai Soren and Madhu Koda of inciting the public during the bandh. The JMM argues that the authority to implement ‘no entry’ rules on national highways rests with the central government, not the state or district administration. The 12-hour bandh call did not significantly impact East Singhbhum due to the ongoing Ghatshila Assembly by-election, where essential services were exempted. However, life in West Singhbhum came to a standstill.
