Hemant Soren Arrest: Tribal Outfits Call For Jharkhand Bandh

A day after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested former Chief Minister and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) chief Hemant Soren, tribal outfits of the state have called for Jharkhand Bandh to register their protest. According to the reports, workers and supporters of more than 20 tribal organizations are likely to participate in the protest.

President of Kendriya Sarna Samiti, Ajay Tirkey, told the media that the protest and statewide shutdown are to express discontent against the behavior of ED officials towards Hemant Soren. "Despite cooperating with the ED in the investigation, Hemant Soren was arrested. We strongly oppose this action," Tirkey said.

However, emergency services and school would not be disturbed during the bandh, Tireky underlined.

A day ago, Hemant Soren handed over his resignation to Jharkhand Governor CP Radhakrishnan and a support letter signed by 43 MLAs to form a new government in the state. The JMM, Congress, and RJD alliance picked Champai Soren as their new leader, the new chief minister of Jharkhand.

The reports said that JMM has requested the governor to conduct the swearing-in ceremony at the earliest so that the state government can continue working smoothly.

The action against the former chief minister Hemant Soren has been taken in relation to "huge amounts of proceeds of crime generated by manipulation of official records by showing dummy sellers and purchasers in the guise of forged/ bogus documents to acquire huge parcels of land having a value in crores''.

The reports added that the ED has so far arrested 14 people in the case including an IAS officer.