PATNA: A month-long upsurge of different tribal organizations demanding a separate Jharkhand State has created a sense of euphoria within the three lakh Advises of south Bihar.

Moderation of hostility against the diku (outsider) has made the term obsolete at least politically among the Jharkhand activists. The JMM has made its membership sponsored by two active members open to all residents of the 16 districts of south Bihar. We will reject any membership application if it is found that it is because of fear they are filing it” stated P.Monoranjan member of JMM central committee.

Talking about the economic blockade S.K.Arya Vice President of the Jharkhand Chamber of Commerce said “This blockade has made the Center take stock of the situation in south Bihar. It has also enhanced the popularity of the JMM.” Senior police officers controlling Hazaribagh Dhanbad Bokaro Chapra and Ranchi as well as the recently bifurcated Singhbhum (cast and west) districts told the Pioneer; “Our task was made all the more easy due to the few incidents of violence and intimidations.

However senior administrative officers of the Coal India Limited (CIL) and its subsidiaries BCCL CCI and ECL complained that the state administration was completely supine during the 10-day economic blockade.” A senior security officer in fact stated “I had instructed my managers not to provoke any confrontation since the police had completely washed their hands of this complaining of lack of forces.”

The CIL management alleged that the JMM activists even disrupted production in the collieries contrary to what Suraj Mandal the JMM Vice President and a MP claimed. “In Bokaro police stations even refused to lodge FIRs which is a culpable criminal act” charged the CIL security officer. The passivity of the administration came to the fore with a senior officer of DIG rank in Ranchi asking “How could we prevent a peaceful agitation?” when asked what prevented the police from apprehending squatters on the railway-tracks.” Chhota Nagpur and Santhal Parganas are vast territories and we simply lack the kind of man-power to clear rail-tracks for coal-rakes to be passed unhindered opined the administrative officers.

Article extracted from this publication >> April 17, 1992