RANCHE: The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha today turned down appeals by the Bihar chief minister and launched an economic blockage to ensure that minerals and other g00ds do not leave the region.

The economic blockade has been called in support of the IMM demand for a separate state. It got off to an uneasy start today amidst reports of sporadic clashes.

Officials however claimed that the explosives hurled last night in Chakradharpur at the Railway Protection Force were thrown by criminal.

Some reports however said that two RPP men were injured in blasts at Chaibasa and that the bombs were hired by JMM activists.

The blockage the second phase of the JMM agitation has been planned to last 13 days and JMM President Mr Shibu Soren is camping at Bodaro the vice president Mr Suraj Mandal is camping at Ranchi

Meanwhile according to unconfirmed reports a truck carrying Vanaspati was hijacked near Chaibasa It was not known if it was taken away by JMM activists.

Mr Suraj Mandal said the blockade was targeted at loading of minerals and not production The slogan he said was Khadaan se Nahin Hoga Ladaan (There will be no loading from the mines) He also claimed that state government undertakings had been exempted and that only the central under takings were being blockaded.

Supply of raw materials to Heavy Engineering Corporation was disrupted and coal could not be supplied to the wateriest. A confrontation between workers of a contractor and the JMM men was reported from the North Kamapura coal field and 25 people are said to have been injured. At Ranchi the MM workers have pitched a tent at Kadru and are allowing only passenger trains to pass. Goods trains are only allowed ass after being checked.

Ata press conference here this afternoon Mr. Mandal turned down the chief minister’s appeal for talks. Instead he suggested the chief minister ought to present a proposal in current session of the assembly urging the Center to create a Jharkhand state. Such a proposal he added should be sent to the Center with the assembly’s recommendation

He also turned down appeals 1to withdraw the blockage in view of Ramzan The blockade he said had not affected normal life.

Mr Mandal was flanked by Mr Dharam Chand Bajajand Mr. Arya of the Jharkhand Chamber of Commerce.

The JMM vice-president condemned the chief minister for seeking additional central forces for dealing with the blockade. The move he said was designed to provoke Jharkhand Mukti Morcha worker.

JMM sources confirmed rail traffic was disrupted when a goods train was stopped by activists.

In economic terms the stoppage of a day’s loading and dispatch of coal alone would cost the state exchequer about Rs. 2 crore. Mr Mandal claimed that so far the CCL has lost about Rs 6 crore.

Article extracted from this publication >> April 3, 1992