Section 144 was imposed in parts of Ranchiahead of the BJYM's ‘Yuva Aakrosh Rally’ in the city on Friday. The local administration banned any demonstration and public meeting near Morabadi Ground from 11 am to 11 pm.
Reacting to the imposition of restrictions, the BJP termed the move as an attempt to "stifle voices" of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) workers against the "injustice" done by the Hemant Soren government and claimed that hardly two months are left before the government would be shown the exit door in the assembly elections.
Section 144 imposed in Ranchi
The Ranchi district administration enforced Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS), which replaced Section 144 of the CrPC, within a 500-metre radius of the Morabadi Ground, excluding the premises.
Check full list of restrictions:
- Public meetings banned
- Holding rallies, dharnas, demonstrations banned.
- Gatherings of five or more people within this perimeter is also banned.
- Carrying arms, ammunition, explosives and traditional weapons such as lathis, spears, bows and arrows is prohibited.
- Using loudspeakers is barred in the area.
The Ranchi district administration in the order noted concerns that some organisations or parties are planning to hold dharnas, demonstrations and rallies and there is a possibility of gheraoing the chief minister’s residence.
"Such activities may cause disruption in government work, traffic movement may get affected, law and order situation may arise and public places may witness disturbances. Therefore prohibitory orders have been imposed," the order said.
Meanwhile, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan attacked the JMM government, alleging that it was preventing BJYM workers from reaching Ranchi from various districts as many buses were seized.
"Only a frightened CM (Hemant Soren) could resort to such practices. He is neither able to run the government nor his party. The Hemant Soren regime's contribution to the state is 7,812 murders, 7,115 rapes, 6,937 kidnappings, 8,792 riots, 2,721 loots, 485 dacoities and 2,73,261 other crimes. Infiltrators are grabbing tribal land, there is open loot everywhere. When BJYM workers asked about poll promises like 5 lakh jobs, efforts are on to stifle their voices," Chouhan alleged.
The rally was planned by BJP's youth wing members to protest against the Hemant Soren-led government for allegedly failing to fulfil promises made during the last assembly elections.
Backed by BJP, a significant turnout of BJYM workers is expected in Ranchi during the day and they planned to march towards Soren’s residence to seek answers to queries related to jobs, unemployment allowances and other issues highlighted during the 2019 assembly election campaign, a party office-bearer said. Jharkhand BJP president Babulal Marandi appealed to youth workers to participate in the rally in large numbers.
