Assembly adjourned as a MLA tears off his shirt
A march led by Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM)-Prajatantric supremo, Babulal Marandi to protest the displacement of tribals in the state turned violent on September 1. It also led to unruly scenes in the state Legislative Assembly.
One person was killed and around 32 injured when the police lathicharged the protestors as they tried to break the barricades and march towards the Assembly. The protestors retaliated by pelting stones on the policemen.
Later, Marandi was arrested along with his supporters. “Over two million tribal families have been displaced by various industrial houses. Arjun Munda government has become a puppet in the hand of industrialists,” he alleged.
The JVM party leaders also claimed that the entire march was peaceful and police action was politically motivated. Marandi added that the district administration was informed about the demonstration around a month back.
But Vipul Shukla, superintendent of police (city), defended his department saying that they had no option but to use force after protestors tried to break the barricade “We tried to rescue the injured man and rushed him to the hospital,” Shukla added. The person later died due to excessive bleeding.
The police action also triggered protests by legislators gathered for the monsoon session of the Assembly. JVM’s Bokaro MLA, Samresh Singh, rushed towards the well of the house and tore-off his shirt. “You can dare shoot my people and I can dare to expose my chest to let you shoot me too,” he shouted.
This unusual gesture by the MLA prompted other legislators from ruling coalition, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and All Jharkhand Student Union, to rush to the well of the House and forced the speaker to adjourn the session. The Assembly did not conduct any business on September 4 too.
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