Jharkhand bandh — Violent past haunts residents of new state

Bandhs in the past have been marred with widespread violence and this has compelled them to take such a decision. Two years back on June 11, for instance, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) activists killed Manoj Kumar Agrawal for “daring” to report for work on June 8, when a bandh had been called. His death was not the only isolated case of violence. There were many more.

According to a report, during the 16 day-long bandhs in various parts of the region since 1990, six people lost their lives, 80 trucks were torched and 136 shops looted. In most cases, the bandhs were called by JMM, All Jharkhand Students’ Union, CPI, CPI(M-L) and the Rashtriya Janata Dal, either separately or collectively. Tomorrow’s bandh which is called has been CPI(M-L) and supported by JMM, CPI, Congress and RJD.

In the past, these parties had called for bandhs on political issues pertaining to the creation of Jharkhand state. But tomorrow’s has been called to protest against the appointment of Governor Prabhat Kumar, who was chargesheeted in the Babri masjid demolition case.

“There can never be any dearth of issues, but during each bandh, we suffer a lot,” said the owner of a recently-opened gift shop, and demanded that bandhs be banned. His views are shared by people engaged in small business, retailers, auto-drivers, daily-wage labourers and rikshaw-pullers.

The worst sufferers are, perhaps, transporters and commuters. “The bandh affects us badly. The buses are withdrawn from the roads as a precautionary measure,” said the Jharkhand Rajya Transport officer Jogindra Mahato. Passengers are left stranded at various places.

“A bandh hits the region’s economy, critically disrupting commercial and industrial activities and putting commuters to inconvenience. Even politicians find different ways to voice their protests, which adversely affects us,” lamented the owner of a sweet shop.

Government officers and police have failed to help the hapless people. “In the seventies, the District Collector and the SP issued circulars askingemployees to attend offices and dissuade protagonists of the bandh. But none of the Collectors and the SPs in 18 districts do this nowadays. As a ritual, they only deployed police force to maintain law and order,” complained an industrialist.

Chief Secretary V.S. Dubey was evasive when asked if any administrative measure had been planned to prevent bandhs in future. “We have taken security measures to maintain law and order during tomorrow’s bandh,” he said.

According to official reports, 16 companies of para-military forces belongingto the CRPF, CISF, BSF and the Jharkhand police have been deployed in thestate to maintain law and order. “Deployment of security forces cannot guarantee peace during the bandh,” said a state government officer, requesting anonymity.