Marandi demands judicial probe into police firing

Former Chief Minister and JVM-P chief Babulal Marandi on Monday demanded a judicial probe by a sitting High Court judge into the October 22 police firing to stop tribal people coming to Ranchi to participate in a rally.

"The BJP government led by Raghubar Das has become nervous due to regular protests by the tribal people opposing the amendments proposed to the two land acts. The state government tried to prevent people from attending the rally," the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha-Prajatantrik (JVM-P) President said.

"Prohibitory orders were imposed when rally was scheduled to take place on October 22. A judicial probe should be conducted into the police firing and Rs 25-lakh compensation should be given to family of the killed person," demanded Marandi at a joint press conference of the opposition parties.

The joint press conference was also addressed by leaders of the Congress, Janata Dal-United (JD-U) and Left parties, among others.

Speaking to reporters, former central minister and Congress leader Subodh Kant Sahay said: "Raghubar Das in a calculated way tried to prevent tribal people from attending the October 22 rally and shutdown called by the opposition parties on October 24. Has anyone ever heard of prohibitory orders imposed on the day of the rally?"

The Adivasi Sangarsh Morcha had called the rally on October 22 to protest the amendments.

The tribal people supported by the opposition parties are protesting the BJP government's move to amend two land acts -- Chhotanagpur Tenancy Act (CNT) and the Santhal Pargana Tenancy Act (SPT).

--IANS

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