PRINCE KUMAR
Ranchi, March 6: The Akhil Bhartiya Bhojpuri, Magahi, Maithili and Angika Manch had called for a Jharkhand bandh on Sunday to protest the alleged neglect of their languages in the state which remained peaceful. During the bandh, a large number of police forces have been deployed at the square intersections of the capital to deal with the miscreants.
About one and a half dozen people, including the national president of Bhojpuri Magahi Bhasha Sangh, Kailash Yadav, were seen appealing to the shopkeepers to close the shops on the roads of the capital city.
The protesters came near Albert Ekka Chowk and raised slogans, after shouting the protesters proceeded towards the Hanuman temple and requested to close the open shops, some shopkeepers also closed the shops at their request.
Kailash Yadav, president of Bhojpuri Magahi Bhasha Sangh, said “We have no objection with any other organization, they are demanding their rights and we are demanding our rights from the government. We are brothers and efforts are being made to start a fight between the language protestors and the tribals.”
Ranchi Police has made elaborate security arrangements to deal with the bandh supporters. Four thousand soldiers have been deployed in the district regarding the bandh. The SSP has directed all the station in-charges to immediately arrest those who damage government and private things.
Special deployment of security forces has been made so that there is no law and order related problem. A large number of magistrates have also been deputed to the district. The suspects are being monitored. QRTs have also been deployed in every police station area and sensitive place. The police will deal strictly with those who create disturbance during the bandh. The police will directly register an FIR against the protesters who create a ruckus.
Notably, the language row started after a section of people opposed the inclusion of Bhojpuri and Magahi as regional languages for the district-level appointment examinations in Bokaro and Dhanbad districts. After the protests, the government issued a revised list on February 18 removing the languages from the two districts.
Taking a strong exception of the move, the Manch said no government can neglect Bhojpuri, Magahi, Maithili and Angika languages as people speaking them are living for generations in every part of Jharkhand.
