The Jharkhand state observed bandh on Monday called by six Left parties, CPIM, CPI, RSP, Forward Bloc, Marxist Coordination Committee and CPIML in protest against the ongoing anti-encroachment drive launched by the district administration in various parts of the state.
The bandh was almost total in rural areas where normal life came to a halt. The workings in the government offices and commercial establishments were badly affected. Except the movement of trains, short and long distance busses were off the roads. Production of coal and bauxite was totally stopped and its transportation by roads was stalled. In the town areas in the state, the bandh evoked mixed response. All the major opposition parties immediately extended their support to protest the anti-encroachment drive and demand resignation of Chief Minister Arjun Munda. A large number of party workers hit the roads on Monday morning. In Ranchi Police detained three CPI(M) leaders — Janardan Paswan, Bhubaneswar Mahta and Gyanshankar Majumdar and were kept in the camp jail set up at the Jaipal Singh stadium.
Left parties condemned the indiscriminate police firing in Dhanbad on 26th Arptil on thousands of innocents for their alleged crime of living in squatter settlements on government land. Their jhuggis were demolished and they themselves either were killed by police bullets, or injured and finally evicted from the only shelter they had. According to confirmed reports from the spot, twelve persons have already died and several others have been critically injured. The Arjun Munda government that has launched this brutal eviction drive, enforced through police firing not only in Dhanbad but also in several other places in Jharkhand, should be held responsible for the brutal act. it is in this context the left parties had given a call for Jharkand bandh.
