Munda adamant, bandh peaceful

Jharkhand Chief Minister Arjun Munda today ruled out any cut off mark like land survey, census or voters’ list reports to determine loc...

Jharkhand Chief Minister Arjun Munda today ruled out any cut off mark like land survey, census or voters’ list reports to determine locals during recruitments in state government jobs even as the two-day bandh by pro-domicile groups, which began today, evoked a mixed response.

Speaking to reporters before the Cabinet meeting, Munda said instead of such cut-off marks, the government would prefer giving priority on the basis of local languages and culture, in employment opportunities.

To a pointed question on yesterday’s attempt to set fire to an examination centre in Dhanbad by unidentified persons, the Chief Minister said he would look into it. He also assured there would be no problem for candidates appearing for the teachers’ recruitment test tomorrow.

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The pro-domicile groups like Jharkhand Front and Adivasis-Moolvasi Janadhikar Manch have been asking the government to frame a local policy, taking into account land survey reports, including 1932, 1951 census, 1952 voters’ list.

Meanwhile, there was no report of any violence from across the state till noon and nine AJSU (Kachhap group) activists were arrested from Pakur for trying to enforce the bandh, police said.

While vehicular traffic was normal, most of the shops downed shutters in the capital town of Ranchi. President of Jharkhand Chamber of Commerce and Industries Gulshan Lal Ajmani has asked traders to keep open their respective business as there were adequate security arrangements.

Five companies of CRPF, two of Jharkhand Armed Police, one of CISF, RAF personnel and 500 additional personnel have been deployed to thwart any disruption of teachers’ recruitment test tomorrow. The administration has asked the test candidates to seek police help in case they face problems in reaching their test centres.