Tag: Ranchi

NRC to affect Jharkhand tribals, say activists.

Source – telegraphindia.com

The protests that erupted across the country on Thursday against the amended citizenship law and the proposed all-India National Register of Citizens (NRC) echoed in Jharkhand as well, albeit in a low-key manner because of the model code of conduct.

Common citizens, representatives of civil society organisations and members of Left parties organised two protest marches in Ranchi and one in Jamshedpur. At the first march in Ranchi, the organisers pointed out that the NRC would affect tribals of the state. Adivasis enjoy land rights by tradition and most of their land is vested with village heads hence it will be difficult for them to show individual ownership of land, the activists pointed out. If the tribals can’t prove they own land how can they register in the NRC, the activists wondered.

Representatives of organisations such as Adivasi Adhikar Manch, Christian Yuva Manch, the Ranchi branch of the National Alliance for People’s Movement, Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha (which is itself an umbrella organisation of various such outfits), All India Students’ Front, Adivasi Mahila Manch and Nagrik Adhikar Manch participated in the protest.

“The CAA is a divisive pronouncement of the BJP government,” Bharat Bhushan Chaudhary of the Mahasabha told the gathering.

“The government is using police machinery to quell the voice of protest,” said Praful Linda of the CPM, who also addressed the gathering at the Zilla School ground in Ranchi, citing the police firing in Assam and attack on students of Jamia Milia Islamia University and Aligarh Muslim University.

“The BJP has turned Jharkhand into a laboratory for carrying out anti-minority, anti-poor and anti-tribal experiments,” alleged Vivek Kumar, a Right to Food activist associated with the Mahasabha. “They cancelled scores of ration cards that resulted in starvation deaths in the state.”

Vivek pointed to the many mob lynching cases and the BJP government’s attempt to tweak the tenancy laws meant for protecting tribal land “just to favour chosen corporate houses”.

The gathering marched to Albert Ekka Chowk where they formed a human chain. Members of CPI, CPIM, CPI-ML and MCC marched from Sainik Bazar to Albert Ekka Chowk in the second protest.

In Jamshedpur, around 100 activists of CPI-ML, AISF and other outfits marched from Sakchi roundabout to the district collectorate.

“It was part of the national call of various organisation to protest against the CAA,” said Deepak Ranjeet of the Jharkhand Jantantrik Sabha. “We had asked activists not to shout provocative slogans or indulge in any kind of violence. We submitted a memorandum to the East Singhbhum DC.”

Ranchi shivers at 8.6°C

Source – telegraphindia.com

The prevailing cold wave in northern India has made way for the return of the morning chill in Jharkhand.

The dry and crisp north-westerly wind that is sweeping across the state has dragged down minimum temperatures below the 10°C mark in several places, including state capital Ranchi, and has ensured another 48 hours of bone-numbing chill.

Weathermen at the Ranchi centre of the India Meteorological Department on Wednesday predicted a drop of at least three degrees in minimum temperature in the next two days.

Besides the capital and Khunti , places such as Bokaro and its adjoining areas had a brush with the sub-10 jitters for the first time this winter.

Ranchi on Wednesday recorded a minimum reading of 8.6°C, one point below the average normal. On Tuesday, it was cosier at 14.6°C, which means the temperature plunged by six degrees in just 24 hours.

Kanke on the outskirts of the capital, which usually touches temperatures close to the freezing point in December, recorded a minimum of 9.6°C on Wednesday.

The mercury plungedto 10.5°C in Bokaro from 16.1°C on Tuesday, two points below normal.

In Jamshedpur, too, the Celsius has been on a plummeting spree. The local observatory on Wednesday recorded a minimum of 14.6°C against Tuesday’s 17.2°C. The reading on Wednesday was three notches below the average normal. Weathermen said a further fall in minimum reading was expected in the steel city in the next 48 hours.

The night temperature in Daltonganj nose-dived to 11.9°C from Tuesday’s 17°C, Wednesday’s reading being three notches below normal.

Chaibasa in West Singhbhum also witnessed the Celsius sliding to 12.8° from 16.6°, two notches below normal.

Minimum readings in Dumka, Giridih, Koderma, Hazaribagh, Dhanbad, Deoghar, Simdega , Gumla, Ramgarh and Seraikela-Kharsawan witnessed significant drops.

Early morning fog was witnessed in southern and central Jharkhand, including Jamshedpur.

Forecast of shallow and moderate fog in the state has been extended for another 48 hours.“The current spell of cold wave sweeping northern India has given fresh momentum to north wind. This is causing the Celsius slide in Jharkhand. Such weather is likely to prevail for a few days,” said S.D. Kotal, director of the Ranchi Met centre.

Met predicts chilly nights ahead.

Source – telegraphindia.com

Cloud cover over most parts of the state will recede by Tuesday, resulting in an abrupt fall in night temperatures across Jharkhand after the next 24 hours, weathermen predicted on Monday.

“Favourable winter conditions in Jharkhand will return after 24 hours. Two climate systems — a Western Disturbance and a cyclonic circulation over Bay of Bengal — which resulted in clouds and showers for the past two days in several places, including Ranchi and Jamshedpur, will clear by tomorrow (Tuesday),” S.D. Kotal, director of Ranchi Meteorological Centre, said.

IMD’s Ranchi Met centre on Monday afternoon forecast dry weather with partly cloudy sky in some places after the next 24 hours. This will result in an abrupt fall in minimum readings by 2-4°C. The Met office has also predicted shallow to moderate fog in several districts during the next 72 hours. The fog is expected to reduce early morning visibility below 1,000 metres.

Capital Ranchi, which recorded a minimum of 14.5°C on Monday against 15.6°C on Sunday, gave a preview of what was in store.

The local observatory in steel city recorded a minimum of 18°C on Monday compared with 19°C on Sunday.

Data showed that the minimum readings dropped by a degree in Bokaro and two degrees in Koderma and Hazaribagh.

A senior weather analyst at Patna Met centre said the north wind, which had stopped due to the twin climate systems, had started to flow again.

“The north-westerly wind would continue to dominate over the state after the next 24 hours,” he said.

Blanket ban

In Ranchi, the poor on the roads were spotted burning garbage dumps and using sacks to keep the chill at bay as the RMC blamed the model code of conduct for the delay in the distribution of blankets and lighting bonfires in public places.

“Last (Sunday) night, I distributed blankets among 15 beggars near Shiv Mandir lane in my locality,” social worker Jyoti Sharma said.

The district administration had given 14,000 blankets to RMC in October for distribution across 55 awards.

On why they had not been distributed so far, municipal commissioner Manoj Kumar said: “The blankets have reached every ward, but it is not possible to distribute them without permission of the Election Commission. I don’t think it is possible to do it before December 23,” Kumar said.

Deputy development commissioner Ananya Mittal said the same.

“Till December 23, work on the distribution of blankets and burning bonfires by the district administration is not possible,” she said.

On the rationale behind blanket distribution at a later date when they were needed urgently, an Election Commission official: “In principle it has been decided that the blankets can be distributed and bonfires can be lit in those areas where polling is over. But we have been directed to ensure that the opportunity is not used by the ruling party for publicity. The directive will reach us within a day or two.”

Protests over twin deaths in Bachra.

Source – telegraphindia.com

The 10-year-old injured girl, who was recovered along with the dead body of a 12-year-old girl from the forest area in Bachra under Piparwar police station in Chatra district on Thursday, died on her way to Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Ranchi.

The death of the second girl, who residents believe was also the victim of sexual assault, triggered massive protests outside Piparwar police station on Friday.

“When local residents got the news of the girl’s death around 5 on Friday morning, they set out for Piparwar police station and staged a demonstration demanding capital punishment for those involved in the crime. The district administration had to deploy forces meant for election duty to bring the situation under control,” one of the residents said.

Deputy commissioner of Chatra Jitendra Kumar Singh confirmed said the situation was under control.

“The death of the second girl spurred protests, but it’s not so serious. Situation is under control,” Singh said.

Prodded for more details, he said police had started an investigation and directed the questions to superintendent of police (SP) Akhilesh B. Veriar.

“I am busy in sealing the strongroom. It will be better if you talk to the SP,” Singh said.

SP Veriar could not be contacted on his mobile despite four attempts between 4.15pm and 4.41pm on Friday.

Human rights activist, Runa Shukla, told that another eight-year-old boy was also found in an injured condition a few metres away from the spot where the girls were found lying.

“He is undergoing treatment at RIMS,” Shukla said.

She said the boy along with her 12-year-old sister and her friend went to the forest on his cycle to collect wood and fruits around 10am on December 11.

“On their way back, Sonu, 18, and his two friends asked him to go deep into the forest for better fruits. Leaving his cycle with the two girls, the boy went to forest. When he came back, Sonu hit him and took the girls into the forest,” Shukla said, adding that the boy was found 7am on Thursday while the girls were found in the afternoon.

Ranchi: Lawyer who represented Richa Bharti against Quran distribution order shot dead, property dispute suspected.

Source – opindia.com

Ram Pravesh Singh, a 47-year-old lawyer in Ranchi was shot dead on Monday night in Ranchi. As per reports, the incident occurred in Road number 5 in Sarvodaya Nagar, under the Kanke police station limits.

In a CCTV footage that has been going viral on social media, Ram Pravesh Singh can be seen standing near his car, in his lawyer’s robes, when the assailant had approached him casually. The assailant was seen slowly and casually walking towards the lawyer and suddenly raising the gun he had kept hidden in his hands behind his back. Ram Pravesh Singh was shot dead from a point-blank range and the bullet had gone through his head, causing instant death.

He was taken to RIMS for treatment but the doctors there had declared him brought dead. The incident happened close to the lawyer’s house. Police have stated that Ram Pravesh Singh had a property dispute going on with a person named Chhotu Lakra regarding a plot of land in Misir Gonda. He had also registered an FIR against Chhotu Lakra on 23 October following a fight. The police have taken Lakra and his relative Ramesh into custody for interrogation.

Reports say the murderer and his associate had conducted a recce of the area around Singh’s residence. The bike-borne associate had helped the murderer escape after shooting Singh.

The lawyers of Ranchi Bar Association have severely condemned the brutal murder of a colleague. Kundan Prakash Singh, the General Secretary of Ranchi District Bar Association has stated that it is a cause of deep concern that a lawyer has been gunned down by criminals so daringly. He added that the crime shows the boldness of criminals and the anarchy. He had also emphasised on security for the lawyers stating that losing clients often consider the lawyer as their enemy.

The murder of a lawyer in the capital city so close to the assembly elections has created a stir in the region. The lawyers have called for a strike and have boycotted work on Tuesday, taking a silent march in the capital’s streets.

It is notable here that the deceased lawyer Ram Pravesh Singh had represented Ranchi girl Richa Bharti, who had been in news headlines after a Ranchi court had ordered her to distribute copies of the Quran over a complaint against one of her Facebook posts.

Richa Bharti had declined to distribute the Quran copies, saying it violates her rights to free speech and rights to religion. The case had created headlines across the nations, and lawyers of the Ranchi Bar Association, led by Kundan Prakash, had then taken out protests too, demanding the transfer of the judge Manish Kumar Singh, who had issued the order.

Following widespread outrage against such an order, the Ranchi court had finally modified the order. The case had created national headlines and had stirred many people to volunteer to contribute towards Richa’s legal expenses.

Police official shoots senior dead at Ranchi: Poor command structure, long tenures in conflict zones cause stress, says expert.

Source – firstpost.com

A police constable on Monday shot dead his company commander and killed himself at Ranchi. Another constable, who received bullet injuries in the firing, has been hospitalised.

This incident comes less than a week after another case of fratricide at Chhattisgarh’s Narayanpur.

In Ranchi, constable Vikram Rajware shot dead his superior, Mela Ram Kurre, and during the firing, constable Venudhar Guru sustained a bullet injury in his thigh. Guru has now been hospitalised. The incident occurred at 6.30 am on Monday, according to a police source. All three belong to 1066 Company of the Chhattisgarh’s State Police Force (SPF), and were deployed in Jharkhand for the ongoing Assembly election.

“There was an altercation between the jawan and the commander in the morning, and after that, the jawan fired at his commander. However, the reason for this altercation is still unknown,” the source said.

The 1066 company of the Chhattisgarh SPF had earlier been stationed at Khelgaon Stadium in Ranchi for a night halt and was on its way to Hazaribag for the third phase of Jharkhand Assembly election.

Initially, it was rumoured that the commander and the jawans belong to the CRPF. However, the CRPF headquarters clarified, “They don’t belong to CRPF. The company belongs to Chhattisgarh SPF and is deployed for the Jharkhand Assembly election.” CRPF headquarters has clarified.

In another incident on Monday at Geedam in Naxal-affected Dantewada, a CRPF jawan committed suicide. The reason could not be ascertained.

Less than a week ago, an Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) jawan shot dead four of his colleagues with an AK-47 rifle and killed himself at Kadena in Narayanpur district. Two other jawans were seriously injured in the incident.

Narayanpur, located close to the Maharashtra border, is a hotbed of Left-Wing Extremism (LWE). Similarly, 18 out of 24 districts in Jharkhand are LWE-affected.

According to data tabled in the Rajya Sabha this year, over 930 police personnel, including those from the paramilitary forces, committed suicide in the last five years. Between 2016 and 2018, 307 paramilitary personnel committed suicide. In the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), between 2012 and 2015, the highest number of suicides (149) was reported by the CRPF.

Anil Kamboj, counter-terrorism analyst, said, “There’s definitely a rise in such kind of incidents. The foremost reasons are excessive stress and poor command control. There’s a growing lack of communication between the superiors and the subordinate staff members, which results in severe frustration – even to the extent of jawans going into depression — which is alarming. Regular communication helps ease frustration, but this is not seen to be happening in many cases.”

Other factors include an increase in workload with the same or lower personnel strength, long periods of deployment in conflict zones, frequent movement of troops from one conflict zone to another without a break, and staying away from home for longer periods.

Kamboj added, “While the use of mobile phones is no doubt a boon, it also heightens stress. Now, security personnel are almost constantly in touch with their family members, but cannot help them in day-to-day problems. Getting leave is not easy. This has aggravated stress among security personnel posted in remote locations.”

The Ministry of Home Affairs says occupational hazards such as long tenures of deployment in difficult areas are among the reasons behind the suicides. It also cites domestic issues, marital discord and financial problems as other reasons.

Without doubt, the present situation is alarming, and has a direct impact on security operations.

A possible outcome of impulsive actions among security forces can also be incidents like the encounter in Chhattisgarh’s Sarkeguda in 2012. A judicial inquiry commission recently found that 17 villagers killed in the encounter were not Naxals. The commission said that the forces fired at the villagers in “panic” after hearing a noise in the distance.

Jharkhand elections: Parties not walking talk on women candidates.

Source – newindianexpress.com

RANCHI: While parties of all hues pledged 50 per cent reservation for women in government jobs, in their respective manifestoes for the ongoing Jharkhand Assembly elections, none have come even close to walking the talk by giving enough tickets to women candidates.

The parties, which promised to reserve 33 per cent tickets for women candidates, have failed to put even 17 per cent women on their tickets.While former chief minister Babulal Marandi’s Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM) could put 11 women in fray, the most of all the contesting parties, the All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) came a close second, fielding 9 women candidates. The JVM announced nominees for all seats in the 81-member Assembly, the AJSU named candidates for 52.

However, in terms of percentage of women representation, JVM lags AJSU by 3.4%. While the percentage of AJSU’s women candidates stands at 16.9 per cent, the JVM falls marginally behind at 13.5 per cent.
At seven, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has fielded the third most women candidates, while the Congress lags with a paltry 5 per cent. While the BJP is contesting 80 seats, the Congress is in fray in 31. The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) fares even worse, with just 6 of its 43 candidates being women.
Political experts said the primary reason why the parties shied away from giving more tickets to women is that they are not taken seriously by voters, unless they are accomplished names in politics or other fields.
“Another reason why women leaders aren’t considered for tickets is that they are not as active in the field as their male counterparts. Most step out of their homes only when they are named candidates,” said a political expert, asking not to be named.

Only women who have established themselves in the field of politics are wooed for tickets by parties, he added.The contesting parties, however, asserted that winability, not gender, is the only criterion when it comes to deciding their poll candidates.

Maoists trigger IED blast, 2 CoBRA personnel hurt
Maoists triggered an IED blast near the Vijaygiri hillock, in the Tamar police station area of Ranchi on Sunday morning. The attack left two personnel of Commando Battalions for Resolute Action, (CoBRA) injured. The security personnel were escorting a polling party when the explosive device was detonated. Police said both the injured personnel are believed to be out of danger. “The CoBRA personnel were sent to escort polling officials on their way back from a booth,” ML Meena, ADG (Operations) and spokesperson for Jharkhand Police, said.

Won’t spare anyone if provoked: Rajnath
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said India never provoked any nation, but, if incited, it would not spare anyone. Addressing a poll meeting at Jharia in Jharkhand, he said the measures taken by the Narendra Modi-led government to curb terrorism have cemented India’s reputation as one of the strongest nations in the world. “Our intention is clear. Our policy is clear…Hum duniya ke kisi desh ko chhedenge naihin; lekin jo hum ko chhedega, hum chhodenge nahin (we will never provoke any country, but, if provoked, will not spare anyone),” the Union minister said.

Fogging now twice a day in Ranchi.

Source – telegraphindia.com

Municipal commissioner Manoj Kumar has asked all ward supervisors to ensure fogging twice a day in all the 53 wards under Ranchi Municipal Corporation after receiving frequent complaints from residents about the mosquito menace.

There are several localities in Ranchi such as Hindpiri, Karbala, Basartoli, Pathalkudwa, Islamnagar, Nayatoli and Vidyapatinagar, where of late traces of Aedes Aegypti (the mosquito that spreads chikungunya and dengue) have been found.

The municipal commissioner directed the health section to continue fogging and spraying in such localities on priority basis. The decision was taken on Saturday during a special health review meet of the RMC. RMC has bought three fogging machines this year spending Rs 1 crore to cover 53 wards but fire damaged one of them a few months back.

“We are exploring alternative arrangements because we have to ensure fogging twice a day,” said an official with the health department.

Manoj asked the health section to prepare a roster for fogging and cleaning in such localities. Manoj, who stopped honorarium to ward supervisors recently for furnishing wrong information on door-to-door garbage collection in their localities, said a mechanism will be brought in to keep a tab on cleaning.

RMC junior engineer Ajit Kumar Gupta has been entrusted with the job to verify door-to-door cleaning. He has also been asked to verify if garbage carrying vehicles are taking the required quantity of garbage or not.

Manoj also warned disciplinary action against supervisors and officials if found violating guidelines.

RAIN LIKELY IN PATNA, GAYA, RANCHI AROUND DEC 13, MINIMUMS TO DROP WITH FOG MAKING AN APPEARANCE.

Source – skymetweather.com

Dry weather conditions are being witnessed in the eastern states like Bihar and Jharkhand for the past several days. The weather of entire Bihar and most parts of Jharkhand is dry for the last one month.

If we look at the rain statistics, the figures for Bihar and Jharkhand are contrary to each other. Rain in Bihar from October 1 to December 5 is deficient by 62% while Jharkhand is observing a surplus by 51%.

This is because the weather systems originated in the Bay of Bengal and largely affected Jharkhand while missing Bihar.

Now, the winter rains are expected to commence over Bihar and Jharkhand. This will be in the wake of an active Western Disturbance going to affecting the Western Himalayas around December 10. This Western Disturbance will move towards east and simultaneously a Trough in the Indo-Gangetic Plains will also form around December 12 or 13. Thus, scattered rains can be seen in Bihar and Jharkhand on December 13 and 14. Places like Patna, Gaya, Bhagalpur, Ranchi, Jamshedpur will get to see rainfall activities.

This system is expected to be a fast-moving one but the scattered rains in Bihar and Jharkhand will increase the soil moisture. Post this rain, dense fog will be seen in several parts of Bihar and a few pockets of Jharkhand.

A significant drop in day temperature will also be experienced in Bihar and Jharkhand during this period.

As the rainfall normals are very low for December in Bihar, this spell will certainly pull down the deficiency in the state.

Meet Aruna Tirkey, an ‘indigenous food entrepreneur’ in Jharkhand.

Source – thehindu.com

In the smorgasboard of regional cuisines in India, Jharkhand was considered a hold out, with neighbouring Odisha and Bihar towering over its indigineous cuisine. Aruna Tirkey, a rural development professional, is determined to change this.

In 2016, on Kanke road in Ranchi, Jharkhand’s capital city, Tirkey opened a restaurant Ajam Emba, which means tasty food in Kudukh, the language of the Oraons, an ethnic group in the area.

In my recent travels in Jharkhand during the Assembly polls, the restaurant came highly recommended if I wanted to try out traditional Adivasi food.

Tirkey, who worked for the United Nations for some time, said that she opened the restaurant as she felt there was a need to establish Adivasi cuisine in pulic conciousness. She has not only revived some old recipes and dishes, but has also experimented with local produce.

Traditional Adivasi food has a healthy infusion of locally found vegetables, poultry, fish, herbs and grains.

Dishes such as Ragi Chilka (ragi is locally known as madua), rice Chilka (a kind of crepe) is served along with black chana, as are semi dry vegetables made of the local flower Sanai. Country chicken and Getu Machchli fish curry is served with traditional red rice with beng saag chutney as an accompaniment.

If you’re looking for Jharkhand’s signature dish, Dhuska, a medu vada like preparation served with black chana and potatoes, Ajam Emba is the place to go. In her experiments, Tirkey has tried Ragi Momos and rice tea, both a big hit with young people looking for newness.

“I felt for a long time that Adivasi food had to be established in its own space. We got Jharkhand in 2000, and it was high time that our food was made familiar to those who had no idea about it, and also provide a space for Adivasis living in Ranchi to have a taste of home,” she said.

She bootstrapped the venture and today has a kitchen staff of five and a similar number of wait and front office staff. When the government wanted to hold a skill development workshop on cooking, Tirkey was asked to train interested students in the art of Adivasi cooking.

“We have over 900 herbs in Jharkhand that are good for health and have medicinal value; many of these are amalgamated into the cuisine. I am trying to revive the use of these in day-to-day food as well,” she said.

“Jharkhand, as a state in its search for culturally distinct symbols, since its formation in 2000, needs to promote Adivasi food and assert ownership,” she said, adding that “this will, in future, also change the image of tribal communities in public consciousness.