Mixed response to Bharat Bandh in Jharkhand, 8,784 arrested

The dawn to dusk Bharat Bandh called by the Congress and supported by many parties evoked a mixed response in Jharkhand on Monday.

The police said it has arrested a total of 8,784 people, including leaders of the political parties, during the shutdown on Monday. The important leaders included former Union Minister and Congress leader Subodh Kant Sahay and Congress state President Ajay Kumar.

The shutdown call was supported by the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Jharkhand Vikas Morcha-Prajatantrik and the Left parties in the state.

In Ranchi, schools and a few shops were closed, long route buses were not plying and the district administration had imposed prohibitory orders.

In Giridih district, supporters from the Left parties blocked the GT Road at Simradih. The blockade was cleared by the police after two hours. The impact was also visible in Hazaribagh and Jamshedpur districts.

Security forces have been deployed in large numbers in the state as supporters of the Congress, JMM and other opposition parties hit the streets.

The common people are against the rising prices of petrol and diesel but are also against the shutdown.

"We are facing problems in the domestic budget due to rising prices of petrol and diesel but the shutdown is not the way," said Santosh Kumar, a resident of Ranchi.

--IANS

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