Former Jharkhand CM Champai Soren placed under house arrest over tribals protests against land acquisition
A heavy police presence has been deployed, and barricades have been set up at key locations in response to Sunday’s planned protests, officials said.
PTC News Desk: Former Jharkhand chief minister and BJP leader Champai Soren was placed under house arrest on Sunday to avoid law and order issues in view of protests by tribal outfits against land acquisition for a multi-crore state-run health institute, police said.
Barricades have been put up along roads leading to Nagri area where the project is to come up.
A local of the area, 50-year-old Basant Kumar Mahato, said he was stopped near Chandni Chowk in Kanke. "I reside at Ring Road, but I am not allowed to go to my home," he claimed.
A heavy police presence has been deployed, and barricades have been set up at key locations in response to Sunday’s planned protests, officials said.
Soren criticized the move as undemocratic, alleging that his house arrest was imposed for supporting tribals and their agitation. Security has also been tightened at Soren’s residence, as he has declared his intention to join the protest.
The demonstration, called 'Hal Joto, Ropa Ropo' (plough the field, plant saplings), has been organized by over 20 tribal groups, farmers, and landowners at the site of the proposed Rs 1,074-crore RIMS-2 hospital.
The orders prohibit public meetings and gatherings of five or more people within the designated area.
Carrying firearms, ammunition, explosives, or any other weapons is strictly banned, and the use of loudspeakers has also been restricted, according to an official release. The health department has allocated 207 acres of land for the project.
Last month, Jharkhand Health Minister Irfan Ansari stated that RIMS-2 will include a 2,600-bed hospital along with 100 undergraduate and 50 postgraduate seats.