BJYM's rally: Workers break barricades; police use tear gas shells, water cannons

Jharkhand Police uses force to disperse BJP workers protesting against Hemant Soren government, leading to chaos and injuries.

The Jharkhand Police on Friday (August 23, 2024) lobbed tear gas shells and used water cannons to disperse Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) workers who broke barricades during a protest rally here against the "injustice" meted out by the Hemant Soren government and its "failure to fulfill election promises".

The protesters gathered in the rally and tried to march towards Chief Minister Hemant Soren's residence, which is located near the Morabadi Ground, the venue of the protest programme, and the police baton-charged them.

BJP leaders claimed several workers were injured during the baton charge by the police with party leader Amar Kumar Bauri claiming that the "time has come to wipe out the JMM-led coalition from the State".

“No one can stop us,” he said.

The 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.

The prohibitory orders banned public meetings, rallies, dharnas, demonstrations, and gatherings of five or more people within this perimeter from 11 am to 11 pm on Friday.

“Additionally, carrying arms, ammunition, explosives, and traditional weapons such as lathis, spears, bows, and arrows is prohibited and using loudspeakers is barred in the area”, an official release said.