The entire Jharkhand observed bandh today 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 was partial.
Social activist Medha Patkar who arrived here yesterday visited the demolition sites at Islam Nagar in the state capital today and talked to evicted people. She asked the displaced persons to remain united and fight their cause.
She defied Section 144 Cr.PC and held several meetings in Dhanbad and Ranchi. She also met chief minister Arjun Munda and chief secretary and made her protest against the anti-encroachment drive of the state government.
Meanwhile, former chief minister and Jharkhand Vikas Morcha president Babulal Marandi who launched indefinite hunger strike before the statue of Mahatma Gandhi at Morabadi ground in the state capital, rejected the rehabilitation package announced by the state government for the displaced persons. He said in the ongoing anti-encroachment drive over seventeen lakh people would be evicted from their houses when the state government announced to rehabilitate only 8,000 families in the tents. EOM
The curfew imposed in Dhanbad on April 27 was lifted today.