Bharat Bandh called against CAA, NRC gets mixed response in state

Ranchi: The Bharat Bandh called against CAA, NRC and NPR have evoked a mixed response in the state.

While the shops and business establishments remained open as usual long-distance vehicles did not operate from the various areas. In the capital city of Ranchi shops on the MG road were closed during the day while those on the Lalpur and Kokar areas remained functional.

During the day the bandh supporters at Lowadih tried to block the road but were removed by the police personnel. In the wake of the bandh, the police headquarters had made elaborate security arrangements as it deployed 98 magistrates in Ranchi and 31 special patrolling parties were formed. The district administration had also set up three camp jails in Morhabadi, Khelgaon and Dhurwa Stadium.

However, due to the bandh, not a single bus operated from the different bus stands of the capital giving a tough time to the commuters. Even other passengers vehicles remained off the road forcing many to walk on foot to their respective destinations. Meanwhile, a report from Jamtara said that 150 bandh supporters have been taken into custody in the district.

Districts such as Pakur, Koderma, Dhanbad, Hazribagh and Bokaro did not have any impact of the bandh however in Ramgarh the bandh supporters stopped traffic movement on the Ramgarh-Patna highway for about two hours due to which a long queue of vehicles was stranded on both sides of the road.

The bandh did not have any impact in the coal belt of the state as production and dispatch of coal continued like any other normal day. The bandh was called by Bahujan Kranti Dal and was supported by other organisations.