Abhishek Angad

Traditionally limited to their households, women, for the first time in Wasseypur, have taken to the forefront of protests, holding demonstrations against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

Jharkhand has seen several anti-CAA protests — the ‘Samvidhan Bachao, Desh Bachao’ gathering at the Maidan on Saturday was the largest in the state so far.

Speaking to reporters in Dumka on Wednesday, Shibu Soren said, “There will be a change in the ‘Sthaniya Niti’ (domicile policy) in Jharkhand. The 1932 Khatiyan (proof of land document) should be made the cut-off year to frame Sthaniya Niti.”

A video went viral showing a home guard extorting money from a coal cyclewallah in Dhanbad. The respective DC identified the homeguard, conducted an investigation and suspended him.

This comes against the backdrop of the recently held Assembly election in which the BJP was voted out of power.

Police on Wednesday said they are in the process of filing a petition in court to drop the sedition charge.

Tabrez Ansari was tied to a pole and beaten with rods in Saraikela-Kharsawan area for alleged theft. He was also forced to chant “Jai Shri Ram” and “Jai Hanuman”.

The November 22 incident had occurred less than 48 hours after Union Home Minister Amit Shah credited Chief Minister Raghubar for “curbing naxalism” in Jharkhand.

At a cabinet meeting, Soren also directed that necessary posts be created for judicial officers in these special courts in every district. He also ordered the creation of additional 154 posts for the functioning of these 22 courts.

In a statement issued by Jharkhand BJP spokesperson Pratul Shadeo, the party said, “We strongly oppose the same order against the people who were the masterminds, conspirators who misled people regarding Pathalgadi and protested against India and its Constitution.”

In the evening, in its first decision, the new Cabinet in the state dropped all cases registered against people during the Pathalgadi movement in 2017-18.

While the Pathalgadi movement petered out, many villagers had alleged “police brutality”. A total of 19 cases of sedition, among others, were registered against 172 people. All cases have been taken back.

Saryu Roy defeated Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das in a bitterly fought contest from Jamshedpur West constituency in the Assembly elections.

JMM’s Hemant Soren tipped to be new chief minister as Oppision alliance storms to power; CM Raghubar Das loses to rebel Saryu Roy

There are serious issues that need to be redressed, such as jobs and education. People felt that the BJP government did not pay heed to their problems, and we have been elected to cater to those problems, says Hemant Soren.

Hemant Soren appears to have done it on his own terms, refusing to take the bait and take on national issues the BJP leadership brought up in the campaign phase.

What came as a surprise for even Roy’s supporters was the margin of victory — 15,833 votes — in an election that many considered would be a neck and neck contest.

Speaking at public meeting in Bararwaha block of Sahibganj district, Soren had asked people to use their democratic rights and give a befitting reply to the state’s “dishonest government”.

Hemant Soren is lending support to BJP rebel Saryu Roy, who is contesting against Chief Minister Raghubar Das.