Ranchi: A statewide bandh called by tribal groups in Jharkhand on Wednesday caused widespread disruption to normal life, as protesters blocked roads and highways in several districts to demand protection of traditional tribal religious sites.
Led by organisations such as the Adivasi Bachao Morcha and Sirmatoli Bachao Morcha, the bandh was in protest against alleged encroachments and illegal construction near important tribal religious locations, including the central Sarna Sthal in Ranchi.
Protesters also sought protection for several sacred tribal sites including Marang Buru, Lugu Buru, Parasnath, Mudhar Hills in Pithoria, and Mahdani Sarna Sthals in Tamar and Bedo.
Road blockades were reported in key areas of Ranchi, Gumla, Ramgarh, Hazaribagh, Latehar, and East Singhbhum, with bandh supporters stopping traffic and setting up barricades using bamboo poles and burning tyres.
Some of the major blockades included:
*Ranchi-Patna Highway near Kuju (Ramgarh), blocked from 10 a.m., causing long traffic jams.
*NH-39 near Udaypura Chowk (Latehar), where vehicles were stranded.
*Toto village near Gumla, where roads leading to Lohardaga and other nearby areas were cut off.
In Ranchi, roads were blocked at multiple points including Khelgaon, Argora, Morhabadi, Kanke, Ormanjhi, Kadru, Tatisilwe, Ratu, and Mandar, where protesters carried traditional weapons and staged demonstrations.
Shops and markets remained shut in many towns. In East Singhbhum district, including Ghatshila, Chakulia, Galudih, and Baharagora, protesters marched through the streets and forced commercial establishments to close.
In anticipation of tensions, the administration deployed over 2,000 police personnel in Ranchi alone, with security stepped up in sensitive areas across the state.
Former state minister Geetashree Oraon, who led one of the protests in Ranchi, accused the state government of ignoring tribal concerns.
“The flyover construction near the Sarna Sthal in Sirmatoli has encroached on our sacred ground. We’ve been protesting since January, but no action has been taken. This government calls itself tribal-friendly, yet fails to protect tribal sentiments,” she said.
Tribal groups say that growing urban development and infrastructure projects are steadily encroaching on places that are central to tribal spiritual and cultural identity.
The protest, according to the organisers, was not only about land rights but also a larger fight to safeguard tribal heritage, faith, and traditions from neglect and erosion.
With inputs from IANS