Row over Eklavya School in Silagai: Tribal organisations demonstrate before Raj Bhawan

Ranchi: Tension continues to build over the ongoing row over the establishment of Eklavya Model residential school in Chanho’s Silagai. A large number of villagers from Silagai and surrounding areas marched from Chanho to Raj Bhawan in Ranchi on Saturday. Here they demonstrated over their demands and raised slogans against Ranchi DC and local MLA Bandhu Tirkey. 

Dev Kumar Dhan, former minister and co-convener of the Adivasi Mahasabha said that Veer Budhu Bhagat had fought for the country. Not just for Silagai which is a national heritage. He alleged that there is a conspiracy on the part of the administration to erase the national heritage. He said that he wanted to solve the problem of national heritage in Gram Sabha. He accused the Ranchi DC of doing anti-tribal work. He said that their demand is clear that 20 acres of land given for the construction of the school should be canceled and 51.5 acres of land should be settled in the name of Veer Budhu Smarak Samiti. On the other hand, a two-layer barricading was done in front of the dharna site and a large number of policemen were deputed.

Sources said that the administration is preparing to shift the school to another place in view of the controversy. The Circle Officer of Chanho is searching for a new place. Site inspection has also been done by visiting two-three places.

In view of the demonstration, SDO Deepak Dubey had imposed Section-144 in the radius of 200 meters of the SCM's residence. All types of dharnas and demonstrations and gatherings of more than five people had been banned. The administration was also fully prepared in view of the agitation of the agitators. On one hand, where Section-144 was imposed within 200meters of CM House, the entire city was converted into a cantonment. Barricading was done at every major point and the policemen were deployed there.