JMM’s bandh throws life out of gear in Ranchi; police detain 800

Life here was thrown out of gear today following the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)’s call for dawn-to-dusk Ranchi bandh to protest against the twin murder of its district party president Premchand Mahato’s son Pramod and his friend Shamim Akhtar.

Parivar bandh peaceful in MP

HOSHANGABAD: Shops and business houses remained closed in the district on Thursday following a day-long bandh called by BJP, Sena and Sangh Parivar outfits against police lathicharge and arrest of their 35 activists for disruption of Habib Tanveer’s play. The bandh is being observed in major townships including Itarsi, Pipariya and Sohagpur of the district where security arrangements have been made to prevent any untoward incident, District Collector J.N. Kansotiya said. (Agencies)

Business establishments and educational institutions remained closed and private vehicles were off the road during the bandh hours. Deployment of Rapid Action Force (RAF) and paramilitary forces in full strength proved futile as JMM supporters marched the streets pelting stones and breaking windscreens of vehicles. They also took out processions and held demonstrations at various places in the city. Police detained more than 800 JMM activists who were freed in the evening. The CPI(M-L) and the All Jharkhand Students Union had also extended their support to the bandh.

Ranchi SSP M.V. Rao placed Ormanjhi police station officer B.B. Sharma under suspension after the residents of the area blocked a road and smashed the windscreen of SP (Rural)’s car in protest against police’s failure to reach the site of the crime.