RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, Nov.22: A section of tribals demolished a portion of under construction boundary wall of a campus of union sponsored residential school for tribal, ‘Eklavya Vidyalaya’ at Silagain, the village of one of the tribal icons Veer Budhu Bhagat, about 30km from the city.
The incident took place around 3 p.m. Around 300 people, who are not in favour of construction of school at the place, took the action before police could restrain them from doing so.
S.P. (rural) Naushad Alam confirmed the incident saying further legal action is being taken in the matter. “Not the entire boundary wall but a portion of it was demolished. It was a symbolic protest by a section of tribal, most of them from outside Shilagain,” he said.
Local MLA and executive president of Jharkhand unit of Congress party, Bandhu Tirkey, expressed his concern over the incident as he despite being an anti-BJP leader always supported the project terming its good for the future generation of tribal.
After the boundary wall was demolished, Tirkey was contacted for his comment. He expressed his concern over the development saying it was an attempt to defame him in his assembly constituency and he has started a probe into the matter at his level to know how all these happened.
“How come the work of construction of boundary started when a committee was constituted and its report was awaited to take decision on construction of boundary? Entire exercise was done to defame me,” Tirkey said.
Deputy Commissioner of Ranchi, Chhavi Ranjan, confirmed the development saying that he will take strict action as per law. “CO has been directed to act as per laws. SDM and SP (rural) has to submit a status report,” he said.
A tribal said the situation arose as the decision for establishment of the school was taken without any consent of the Gram Sabha.
“Those behind the demolition of the boundary wall are that section of the tribe who was worried about the existence of Buddhu Bhagat’s village due to the Eklavya Vidyalaya project,” he said.
Eklavya Vidyalaya Project is a project of establishing an English medium residential school for tribal people, where quality education will be provided free of cost. The school at Silagain will be spread in a 20 acre area.
