Jharkhand BJP stages protests burns effigies of CM over 'police action' on tribals in Sahebganj

    Ranchi, Jul 1 (PTI) Members of Jharkhand BJP on Tuesday staged demonstrations and burnt the effigies of Chief Minister Hemant Soren in protest against the alleged police action on tribals during 'Hul Diwas' celebrations in Sahebganj.
    Some tribal organisations also took out protest marches against the incident.
    The police on Monday fired tear gas shells and baton-charged a group of people protesting the dismantling of a stage allegedly by Sahebganj district authorities ahead of an official function to mark 'Hul Diwas' in Bhognadih.
    Bhognadih is the birthplace of tribal icons Sido and Kanhu Murmu, brothers who led the Santhal rebellion against the British rule and local landlords in 1855-56. 'Hul Diwas' is observed on June 30 to commemorate the tribal uprising.
    The BJP workers gathered at Ranchi's Albert Ekka Chowk and raised slogans against the Jharkhand government. Later, they burnt an effigy of the chief minister.
    "The police administration, on the directive of the government, resorted to lathi-charge and used tear gas on tribals and descendants of Sido-Kanhu, who demanded to allow them to perform rituals as per their tradition," BJP leader K K Gupta alleged.
    Jharkhand BJP general secretary and Rajya Sabha MP Aditya Sahu said the event was organised in all district headquarters of the state.
    In Jamshedpur, BJP workers raised slogans against the government during a procession which culminated at Jubilee Park where they burnt an effigy of the CM.
    Former president of BJP's Jamshedpur Mahanagar Committee, Dinesh Kumar, described the incident as an "insult to Adivasi pride and sacrifice of the martyrs".
    Adivasi Suraksha Parishad (ASP), a socio-political organisation, staged a dharna in front of the East Singhbhum Collectorate in protest against the incident.
    ASP president Ramesh Hansda demanded the immediate removal of Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police of Sahebganj.
    The members of 'Adivasi Bachao Morcha' and 'Kendriya Sarna Sthal Siram Toli Bachao Morcha' also took out a protest march in Ranchi and burnt the effigy of the chief minister.
    Former minister Geetashree Oraon, who led the protest march, said, "The police action on the occasion of Hul Diwas was unfortunate. We condemn the incident."
    Meanwhile, two persons were arrested in Godda district on Tuesday in connection with the Hul Diwas clash, a senior officer said.
    Illegal arms and other items were seized from their possession, and one of the accused is allegedly linked to a senior leader of a political party in Jharkhand, he said.
    "Based on information from Sahebganj Police, we arrested two individuals in connection with the Bhognadih incident," Godda Superintendent of Police (SP) Mukesh Kumar told reporters.
    Kumar said the accused were identified as Sudhir Kumar, a resident of Jamshedpur, and Ganesh Mandal, a resident of Odisha.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)