Bharat Bandh: a day of rallies, protests across steel city

Shops and other commercial establishments remained closed, long-distance buses stayed off the road and traffic within the steel city was disrupted as Bharat Bandh supporters held demonstrations at Sakchi, Bistupur and elsewhere in support of farmers.

Bandh supporters, including those belonging to the Congress, JMM and Left parties, trade unions and Sikh outfits, hit the roads as early as 8am to enforce the day-long strike. While emergency services were exempted, banking and insurance services remained unaffected. Post offices and courts functioned as usual. Railway services under South Eastern Railway’s Chakradharpur division were by and large unaffected.

The East Singhbhum district administration had beefed up security in both rural and urban areas even as demonstrations were held in several places. 

In Bistupur, near the Postal Park, the number of agitators swelled after 12 noon as bandh supporters reached the area in tractors and motorcycles chanting slogans like “Jai Jawan Jai Kisan” and “Kendra Sarkar Kala Kanoon Wapas Lo”.

Public transport, like town buses and auto-rickshaws, stayed off the road till 3pm. Long-distance buses for Ranchi and other destinations did not ply fearing disruptions.

District Congress president Bijay Khan, along with other party leaders, marched from Tilak Pustakalaya to Postal Park with placards and banners condemning the Centre’s farm laws.