Bandh evokes mixed response in Jharkhand

Ranchi, Aug 21 (UNI) The JJM-sponsored 12-hour statewide bandh evoked mixed response today, while Jharkhand High Court directed the Centre, Election Commission and Delimitation Commission to file an affidavit by September 5 regarding the Delimitation Act, 2002 notification.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Muthuswamy Karpagvinyagam and Justice Narendranath Tiwary passed the order while hearing a writ petition by veteran politician Salkhan Murmu.

Mr Delip Jerath appearing on behalf of the petitioner challenged the Sections 4, 8 and 9 of the Delimitation Act 2002.

The Jharkhand Janadhikar Manch called the bandh to protest the Delimitation Commission's recommendation of reducing SC/ST Assembly and Lok Sabha seats in the state.

While, government offices functioned as usual, educational institutions and commercial establishments virtually remained non-functional throughout the state.

In the state capital, the bandh protagonists took out a procession on the main road, official sources said adding incidents of minor scuffle had been reportd from several places.

A Giridih report said the agitators disrupted railway traffic for about an hour on the Giridih-Madhupur rail section.

In Bokaro and Dumka, business establishments remained closed and buses went off the long routes.

Similarly, there were mixed responses in Garwah, Hazaribagh and Chatra districts.

A Jamshedpur report said there was lukewarm response in and around the steel city.

Police detained about 250 students of the Adivasi Chhatra Ekta when they tried to enforce bandh at Adiityapur in neighbouring Seraikela-Kharsawan district. The students also staged a road blockade at Kharkai bridge, throwing traffic out of gear for several hours.

Apart from a few tribal pockets, shops and markets in all other areas remained open, while educational institutions functioned normally.

Though long distance buses were off the roads, local buses plied as usual and movement. Train services in the Chakradharpur division of South Eastern Railways remained unaffected.

Meanwhile, the state government had sounded a red alert throughout the state to avoid any untoward incident.

Various tribal outfits and political parties including Jharkhand Mukti Morcha(JMM), All Jharkhand Students Union, Communist Party of India and Communist Party of India(Marxist) had extended their support to the agitation.

UNI