Death of IRS officer & family: Cops probe links to 06 Jharkhand PSC scam

KOCHI: Police are probing whether the deaths of Central GST additional commissioner Maneesh Vijay, his mother and his sister in Kochi are in any way connected to the 2006 Jharkhand PSC (JPSC) exam scam. The postmortems are scheduled for Saturday. It was on Thursday evening that Maneesh, from Ranchi, his sister Shalini Vijay and mother Shakunthala Agarwal were found dead at their central excise and customs independent quarters near the TV Centre at Echamuku, Thrikkakara. An Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer, Maneesh had been working as an additional commissioner (audit) at the Central Excise and GST office in Kacheripady. Maneesh and Shalini were found hanging in separate rooms. Shakunthala was found lying in the bedroom. The bodies had started decomposing. After the inquest, the remains were shifted to Ernakulam Medical College and Ernakulam General Hospital. An entry addressed to police was found in a diary maintained by Maneesh. It said the bodies should be handed over to his younger sister, who is abroad. It also said all the family property should be handed over to the younger sibling. Thrikakkara police, who registered a case of unnatural death, later found that Shalini had topped the JPSC exam in 2006. And, she had been appointed sub-collector. However, following the scam, which led to a CBI investigation, the entire batch of officers lost their jobs. We came to know that along with people who received appointments, Shalini was named an accused. Recently, she had received summons to appear at a court in Ranchi on February 15. Maneesh had been on leave since February 13. He informed colleagues that he would be travelling to Ranchi in connection with Shalinis case, Thrikkakara assistant commissioner P V Baby said. Central excise officer, mother and sister found dead inside quarters in Kochi Police are in touch with Jharkhand police and CBI for more information on the case against Shalini. The family background is being cross-checked with the help of Jharkhand police. Officers received information that Maneesh had purchased flowers on February 14. The court summons was received on February 13. All three are suspected to have died on May 15. Considering the state of decomposition, we suspect that the deaths took place at least five days ago, an officer said. Police are also examining the possibility that Shakunthala died first. Her body was found wrapped in a white cloth, overlaid with flowers. A family photo was also on the bed where her body was found. Maneesh and Shalini may have ended their lives out of depression brought on by their mothers death. The postmortem will confirm the cause of Shakunthalas death, an officer said. The postmortem procedure was delayed as police awaited the arrival of Maneeshs younger sister. The sibling arrived in Kochi on Friday evening. Maneesh was a 2011 batch IRS officer who served in the Customs and GST departments under various capacities. Shakunthala was a college lecturer in Bokaro Steel City. Shalini had received her appointment letter as deputy collector from then Jharkhand Chief Minister Arjun Munde. Maneeshs diary entry An entry addressed to police was found in a diary maintained by Maneesh It said the bodies should be handed over to his younger sister, who is abroad It further said that all the family property should also be handed over to the younger sibling

Chaos at Ranchi railway station, five women faint; DGG Anurag Gupta to meet with police, officials

RANCHI: Following the tragic stampede at New Delhi railway Station on Saturday, Director General of Police (DGP) Anurag Gupta has called a meeting with senior police and railway officials to discuss the safety measures to control and safeguard the crowd. According to sources in the police headquarters, the meeting will be conducted at 4 pm on Monday through video conferencing with the SSPs of Ranchi, Jamshedpur and Dhanbad. ADG (Rail), all zonal IGs, DIGs, SSPs and SPs of Ranchi, Dhanbad, Palamu, Bokaro, Garhwa, Koderma, Ramgarh, Jamshedpur, Chaibasa districts, will also be present in this meeting, informed a senior police official. Preparations for security arrangements at major railway stations will be discussed during the meeting keeping in mind the increasing number of passengers during the Kumbh Mela, he added. The officials further added that the deployment of officers for comprehensive ticket checking, crowd management and measures to work together with railway officials and RPF to avoid stampede will also be reviewed during the meeting. Chaos ensued at Ranchgi railway station on Sunday as a huge crowd of passengers gathered to board trains bound for UP and Delhi. According to the eyewitnesses, when 12817 Jharkhand Swarna Jayanti Express reached Ranchi station, it was already full of passengers. Ticketless passengers board the train and had closed the gate from inside. Those who were waiting to travel in the train with tickets were seen pleading with them to open the gate. The RPF jawans tried to enter the bogies but did not succeed. Although some passengers with genuine tickets managed to enter some bogies, more than 60 passengers could not catch the train. Ticketless passengers had occupied everything from seats to toilets and the gates of the train. A group of 18 women did not board the train due to fear of suffocation. Meanwhile, five women in the group fainted due to suffocation in the crowd. Others in the group separated them from the crowd and took them to a safe place. Many passengers boarded the train but their family members were left behind at the station. According to senior railway officials, proper monitoring is being done and RPF have been deputed at all railway stations. The commercial department has been asked to issue tickets as per the capacity of the trains. Referring to the rush at Ranchi railway station, they said that due to Sunday many devotees were travelling Kumbh, due to which there was a rush but it was under control. Ranchi Railway Division DRM Jasmit Singh Bindra said that there is a lot of crowd in the trains due to Kumbh. Due to the excessive crowd in the Swarn Jayanti train, some passengers missed the train, whose tickets will be refunded. According to DRM, they have written to the South-East Railway Headquarters and sought permission to run the Kumbh Special train on 19 February. Instructions have been given to the RPF Commandant to provide convenience to the passengers at the station, he said.

RINL-Visakhapatnam Steel Plant team wins SPSB Inter-Steel Plants T20 Cricket Championship 2024-25

It defeats Salem Steel Plant team by five wickets in the finals organised at Bokaro Steel Plant

Maiyan Samman Yojana fraud: 95 applications linked to single bank account in West Bengal

RANCHI: In yet another revelation of fraud in Maiyan Samman Yojana linked to West Bengal, as many as 95 applications were made seeking benefits of the scheme giving a single bank account number for all of them. During the investigation, it was found that the bank account of Yusuf, a resident of Patagoda, Barakhanti in North Dinajpur district of West Bengal, was used 95 times. This fraud came to light when the Social Security Department, on the instructions of the Bokaro Deputy Commissioner Vijaya Jadhav, conducted the physical verification of the beneficiaries. The applications giving bank accounts in West Bengal resident was made in different names and from different blocks. Out of a total of 95 applications, 67 were made from Chas Block while 28 were from Gomia Block of Bokaro district. Not only that, titles of tribal communities like Kisku, Hansda and Murmu were used after the names of the fake applicants to make it look natural and sensitive. The ration cards given with the application were also found fake. These applications were also approved by the BDO/CO level officers. After the matter came to light, payment of to these beneficiaries has been stopped and an order to file an FIR has been issued in this regard. There are more than 11000 applications made on the fake ration cards in Bokaro which is still under investigation. After the investigations are over I have ordered to file an FIR against the bank account holder and the CSC operator as well, who made the made application in fake names like Murmu, Hansda, Kisku and Mandal, said the Bokar DC. Many such cases have been found where the accounts were opened in West Bengal, entry was made in Palamu and the money is coming to Bokaro, she added. According to the DC, there several cases are being investigated where one bank account is linked to 95 applicants, in some cases it is linked to 68 applicants and in some, it is linked to 78 applicants. During the investigation, it was also found that all the applications were filled up from the ID number 542316220013 of CSC VLE Sumit Kumar, located at Medininagar in Palamu. Bank account number 100253387047 of IndusInd Bank was used for the fraud with an address of Patagoda, Barakhanti in North Dinajpur of West Bengal. More than 60 applications were filed on November 21, 2024. Most of the applications were filled on the same day. Meanwhile, it has been found that 11,200 duplicate applications have been made from Bokaro district alone. Physical verification of these applications is being done again through Anganwadi workers following which, the fake applicants will be identified and action will be taken against those found guilty. Notably, there are a total of 3.61 lakh beneficiaries in Bokaro, out of those, money has been sent to about 3.50 lakh accounts while 10,200 applicants were found to be ineligible therefore money was not sent to their accounts. Among them, there are many women whose applications have been submitted twice and a mismatch was found in the names of some women in their Aadhaar and bank account. All such cases are being investigated. Similar irregularities were also received from Kasmar Block in Bokaro, where two computer operators were found to be taking benefits of Maiyan Samman Yojana in their bank accounts, following which an FIR was lodged against one of them. In Garhwa also, which IDs of three CSC operators were cancelled after they linked the bank accounts of their friends and relatives with application of others and the financial aid transferred to their bank accounts.

Elephant on the hunt for food dies after falling into a well in Jharkhand's Bokaro village

RANCHI: An elephant that entered a village in Bokaro searching for food died of suffocation after falling into a narrow well late on Thursday night. According to locals, the elephant entered Talo village on Thursday night in search of crops to eat but fell into the well due to the darkness. The villagers discovered the elephant lying dead later in the night and informed forest officials, they said. District Forest Officer (DFO) Rajneesh Kumar stated that the elephant was not with the herd and had wandered alone in the forest near the village. Exact reasons for its separation from the herd cannot be confirmed, but elephants have a tendency to remain in one place while one member, most likely the leader, ventures out to search for food, said the DFO. He added that if the parapet wall of the well had been a little higher, the elephant might not have fallen into it. The DFO said a crane was brought in to pull the elephant out of the well. Notably, due to a lack of food in the forests, elephants often enter villages in search of sustenance and destroy standing crops in the fields. According to officials, the dead elephant was the leader of a herd of 40 elephants and had entered the village ahead of the herd in search of food. Data from the forest department shows that out of the 24 districts in Jharkhand, 20 have elephants. As a result, an average of 80 people are killed and over 150 are injured annually in man-elephant conflicts in the state. Admitting that humans have encroached on elephant corridors, leading to an increase in man-elephant conflicts in recent years, the state government has launched an elephant tracking app. This app, which can be downloaded from the Play Store by searching Jharkhand Elephant Tracker, provides updates on the location of elephants. Notably, The New Indian Express was the first to report that Jharkhand forest officials were developing an app to regularly update people about elephant locations. In addition to providing the exact location of elephants, the app helps villagers prepare to deal with the threat. An integrated alarm mechanism has also been introduced, sending alerts via SMS and WhatsApp as soon as an elephant enters within a 5 km radius of their villages.

Vande Bharats 1st female loco pilot gets R-Day invite

RANCHI: Ritika Tirkey, the first female tribal assistant loco pilot of the Vande Bharat Express, was left speechless when she opened her door to a team of Post Office officials who had come to deliver an invitation for the At Home reception at Rashtrapati Bhawan. According to 27-year-old Tirkey, she had never thought in her wildest dreams that the President would ever invite her as a loco pilot. When she received an e-mail, she thought it to be fake, but a formal invitation from the Rashtrapti Bhawan left her dumbfounded. The invite was delivered to Ritikas residence at Jugsalai in Jamshedpur by the postman under the supervision of Assistant Postal Superintendent (West) Parikshit Seth. Initially, when I received the e-mail, I thought it to be fake, but when a team from the Post Office knocked on my door, it overwhelmed me, said Tirkey. It is an honour that a tribal girl from a simple family has got this unique opportunity, she added. This honour comes as recognition of her outstanding achievements in a male-dominated field, where she has broken barriers to carve a path for women in the Indian Railways. The Rashtrapati Bhawan has invited me as a woman achiever and I believe that every woman should be independent. I think women have been working in almost every field, and where they have not, will reach very soon, said Tirkey. No work is small in this world; the only pre-condition is that it should be done with complete dedication, and then success is bound to follow, she added. According to Tirkey, her first achievement was being the co-pilot when Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the Vande Bharat train on September 15, 2024, and now, attending the Presidents At Home Reception, would be her second achievement. Ritika, who works as the assistant loco pilot of the Vande Bharat Express operating between Tatanagar and Patna, is not only the first tribal woman to take on this prestigious role but also a source of immense pride for her family and the women across the state. Hailing from a humble family in Jharkhand, Tirkey completed her schooling in Ranchi before pursuing a B. Tech in Mechanical Engineering from BIT Mesra. Her father is a retired forest guard. Tirkeys career with the railways started in Chandrapura, Bokaro, under the Dhanbad Rail Division, before being transferred to Tatanagar in 2021. It was there that she received her promotion, propelling her to new heights in her career. She quickly advanced, operating freight trains and passenger services, before being promoted to Assistant Loco Pilot. Her promotion in 2024 enabled her to participate in the operation of the Vande Bharat Express, where she now serves as a vital crew member. The Vande Bharat Express, a state-of-the-art train, is one of Prime Minister Narendra Modis dream projects. Ritikas journey with the Indian Railways began in 2019 when she joined as a shunter in the Chakradharpur division of South Eastern Railway.

Two Naxals killed in Jharkhand encounter, operations underway

At least two Naxals were killed in an encounter in Jharkhands Bokaro, and several weapons were recovered. This follows a major operation where 16 Maoists, including a Central Committee member, were killed in Chhattisgarh. Union Home Minister Amit Shah praised the security forces' success in working towards a Maoist-free India.

Two Maoists killed in Jharkhand's Bokaro

BOKARO: Two Maoists were killed in a gunfight with security forces in Jharkhand's Bokaro district on Wednesday morning, police said. The incident took place in the Penk Narayanpur police station area in the early hours, they said. A large cache of arms and ammunition, including sophisticated weapons such as AK-47 and INSAS rifles, were also recovered, a senior police official told PTI. He said that a search operation was still underway in the area.

Express Impact: Action taken against three men over fraud in Jharkhand's Maiyan Samman Yojana

RANCHI: In a major crackdown over fraud in the Maiyan Samman Yojana, the IDs of three Common Service Centre (CSC) operators in Garhwa have been cancelled with immediate effect. Following reports published by The New Indian Express on misappropriation of funds by computer operators during the registration of accounts for the Maiyan Samman Yojana, the Garhwa Deputy Commissioner (DC) had ordered a probe. After the inquiry, the involvement of three CSC operators -- Navneet Kumar Patel, Satyanarayan Gupta and Ajit Prajapati -- was confirmed, following which their IDs were cancelled and the amount withdrawn by them recovered. The Garhwa DC admitted that the action was taken after the issue was flagged by The New Indian Express . After the issue was flagged by The New Indian Express , a probe was ordered and the allegations against the three CSC operators were found to be true. We have cancelled their IDs and recovered the money credited in their account, said Garhwa DC Shekhar Jamuar. When asked why an FIR was not lodged against these people, the DC said it would be very harsh if they filed an FIR for misappropriation of Rs 1000. However, a strong message has been conveyed to those involved in such malpractices, he said. The fraud surfaced in Kupa Panchayat, Kharondhi block, where the CSC operators intentionally misused the Maiyaan Samman Yojana portal. Instead of entering the correct bank account numbers and IFSC codes of beneficiaries, they entered the details of their own or their close relatives accounts to misappropriate funds. Financial aid for eight women credited to one person's account under Jharkhand's Maiyan Samman Yojana Following the revelation, the circle officer of Kharondhi conducted an investigation. The inquiry confirmed the allegations. It was found that the CSC operators had manipulated beneficiary information to divert funds to personal accounts or those of their kin. It was found that funds for seven beneficiaries were transferred to the bank account of Reshmi Devi, wife of CSC operator Navneet Patel. Similarly, funds for five beneficiaries were deposited into the account of CSC operator Satyanarayan Gupta. In another case, funds for nine beneficiaries were redirected to the account of Lalati Devi, mother of CSC operator Ajit Prajapati. Notably, similar irregularities were also received from Kasmar Block in Bokaro, where two computer operators were found to be taking benefits of Maiyan Samman Yojana in their bank accounts, following which an FIR was lodged against one of them. The Maiyan Samman Yojana, the flagship programme of the Hemant Soren government, launched in August this year, is an ambitious scheme of the state government under which all women aged between 21 to 50 years in the state were getting financial assistance of Rs 1000 every month in their bank accounts through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). Looking at its popularity before the Assembly polls, the financial assistance was increased to Rs 2500. Men found taking financial aid from 'Maiyan Samman Yojana' in Jharkhand; FIR lodged

Financial aid for eight women credited to one person's account under Jharkhand's Maiyan Samman Yojana

Ranchi: A new case of fraud involving computer operators has emerged in the Maiyan Samman Yojana, where financial assistance intended for women beneficiaries was found to have been credited into the bank accounts of unrelated individuals. In one case, the financial assistance meant for eight women was deposited into a single woman's bank account in Kharaundi, Garhwa. Similarly, funds meant for six female beneficiaries were wrongly credited to the bank account of a man. Irregularities involving computer operators have been reported across the state, causing many women to take to the streets in protest, demanding their rightful financial assistance. Those whose funds have not been transferred to their bank accounts have been visiting government offices in large numbers, seeking their due payments. In an incident from Kupa Panchayat, the financial assistance for six beneficiaries of the Maiyan Samman Yojana was credited into the bank account of Satyanarayan Gupta. Likewise, the amounts for Sunita Devi, Rani Kumari, Devanti Devi, Punita Devi, Chani Kumari, and Savita Devi of Kupa were transferred to the account of Resham Devi. Upendar Yadav, the husband of one of the affected women, Savita Devi from Chauria village under Khiraundi Block, has lodged a complaint with the Block Development Officer (BDO) against the computer operator, Navin Patel. In his complaint, Yadav stated that instead of linking his wifes bank account to the Maiyan Samman Yojana scheme, the operator had linked his own wifes account, Resham Kumari. As a result, the financial assistance intended for Savita Devi was being credited to the account of the computer operator's wife. The 'Samman Rashi' meant for my wife, Savita Kumari, is being credited to the bank account of the computer operators wife, Resham Kumari. Since the forgery was deliberately carried out by the CSC computer operator, the entire amount should be recovered from him, and an FIR should be filed against him, Yadav said in his complaint. The women whose accounts received the funds of others have reported that they were required to pay a commission to the computer operator, with half of the amount they received going to him. After the issue came to light, Kharondi BDO Ravindra Kumar assured that action would be taken against those found guilty following a thorough investigation. Large-scale irregularities are suspected across the entire block. Garhwa Deputy Commissioner Shekhar Jamuar confirmed that he had been made aware of the situation and vowed to take proper action. We will have every case investigated, and those found guilty will not be spared at any cost, said the Deputy Commissioner. This is not the first time such irregularities have been reported. In Bokaros Kasmar Block, two computer operators were discovered to be benefiting from the Maiyan Samman Yojana in their own bank accounts. Following this discovery, an FIR was filed against one of them. Launched in August this year by the Hemant Soren Government, the Mukhyamantri Maiyan Samman Yojana is a flagship programme providing financial assistance to women aged between 21 and 50 years. The scheme originally offered Rs 1000 per month to each beneficiary through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), but the amount was increased to Rs 2500 ahead of the Assembly elections due to the scheme's popularity.

Fraudulent practices in Maiyan Samman Yojana Scheme in Garhwa, Jharkhand

Ranchi: A new case of fraud involving computer operators has emerged in the Maiyan Samman Yojana, where financial assistance intended for women beneficiaries was found to have been credited into the bank accounts of unrelated individuals. In one case, the financial assistance meant for eight women was deposited into a single woman's bank account in Kharaundi, Garhwa. Similarly, funds meant for six female beneficiaries were wrongly credited to the bank account of a man. Irregularities involving computer operators have been reported across the state, causing many women to take to the streets in protest, demanding their rightful financial assistance. Those whose funds have not been transferred to their bank accounts have been visiting government offices in large numbers, seeking their due payments. In an incident from Kupa Panchayat, the financial assistance for six beneficiaries of the Maiyan Samman Yojana was credited into the bank account of Satyanarayan Gupta. Likewise, the amounts for Sunita Devi, Rani Kumari, Devanti Devi, Punita Devi, Chani Kumari, and Savita Devi of Kupa were transferred to the account of Resham Devi. Upendar Yadav, the husband of one of the affected women, Savita Devi from Chauria village under Khiraundi Block, has lodged a complaint with the Block Development Officer (BDO) against the computer operator, Navin Patel. In his complaint, Yadav stated that instead of linking his wifes bank account to the Maiyan Samman Yojana scheme, the operator had linked his own wifes account, Resham Kumari. As a result, the financial assistance intended for Savita Devi was being credited to the account of the computer operator's wife. The 'Samman Rashi' meant for my wife, Savita Kumari, is being credited to the bank account of the computer operators wife, Resham Kumari. Since the forgery was deliberately carried out by the CSC computer operator, the entire amount should be recovered from him, and an FIR should be filed against him, Yadav said in his complaint. The women whose accounts received the funds of others have reported that they were required to pay a commission to the computer operator, with half of the amount they received going to him. After the issue came to light, Kharondi BDO Ravindra Kumar assured that action would be taken against those found guilty following a thorough investigation. Large-scale irregularities are suspected across the entire block. Garhwa Deputy Commissioner Shekhar Jamuar confirmed that he had been made aware of the situation and vowed to take proper action. We will have every case investigated, and those found guilty will not be spared at any cost, said the Deputy Commissioner. This is not the first time such irregularities have been reported. In Bokaros Kasmar Block, two computer operators were discovered to be benefiting from the Maiyan Samman Yojana in their own bank accounts. Following this discovery, an FIR was filed against one of them. Launched in August this year by the Hemant Soren Government, the Mukhyamantri Maiyan Samman Yojana is a flagship programme providing financial assistance to women aged between 21 and 50 years. The scheme originally offered Rs 1000 per month to each beneficiary through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), but the amount was increased to Rs 2500 ahead of the Assembly elections due to the scheme's popularity.

Men found taking financial aid from 'Maiyan Samman Yojana' in Jharkhand; FIR lodged

RANCHI: Even as thousands of women recently took to the streets for being denied the financial aid under Maiyan Samman Yojana, men have been found taking benefits of the scheme in Jharkhand. According to officials, at least two men have been found getting the aid for the last four months. The two men have been identified as Aanand Kumar Prajapati from Majhura village and Rupesh Ghasi from Telmunga under Kasmar block of Bokaro district. Kasmar block development officer Namrata Joshi said Prajapati was running a Pragya Kendra and taking the assistance in his bank account by submitting an application form filled up in his name. An FIR has been lodged against Prajapati at Kasmar police station after recovering Rs 6500 received by him in five installments, Rs 1000 four times and Rs 2,500 once, Joshi said, adding his Pragya Kendra licence has been cancelled. The BDO said the entire amount has also been recovered from Ghasi but no FIR has been filed against him due to technical reasons he was an employee at the Pragya Kendra and was not using his own ID for filling up the form. We are waiting for the directions from senior officials, on the basis of which further action will be taken, Joshi said. In another case, Dashmi Kumari of Araju village in Bokaro has written an application to the BDO, requesting that the assistance given to her is being credited into the back account of one Satosh Kumar whom she does not know. Santoshs account number has been entered instead of her bank account number, and the money should be recovered from Santosh and transferred to her account, she said. So far, Rs 6500 has been transferred to Santoshs account. Earlier, following reports that several women not eligible for the scheme have been taking benefits, a campaign was launched in the state to identify such people and remove their names from the beneficiary list. The directorate of social security has asked the district collectors to delete the names of ineligible beneficiaries and submit reports.

Jharkhand: Men found taking benefits of Mainiya Samman Yojana, FIR lodged

RANCHI: Despite thousands of women denied the benefits of Mainiya Samman Yojana, several men have been found taking benefits of the scheme. According to officials, at least two men have been found getting the financial assistance credited in their account for the last four months. Those men, who have been found taking benefits of the scheme, have been identified as Aanand Kumar Prajapati and Rupesh Ghasi, hailing from Majhura and Telmunga villages respectively, under Kasmar Block of Bokaro. Kasmar Block Development Officer said that Anand Kumar Prajapati was running a Pragya Kendra and was taking the financial assistance in his bank account by submitting an application form filled up in his own name. We have identified two men -- Aanand Kumar Prajapati and Rupesh Ghasi, fraudulently taking benefits of Mainiya Samman Yojana in Kasmar Block. An FIR has been lodged against Anand Kumar Prajapati at Kasmar Police Station after recovering the entire amount of Rs 6500 received by him in four instalments, Rs 1000 for four times and Rs 2500 once, said Kasmar Block Development Officer Namrata Joshi. In addition to that, Kasmar the license of the Pragya Kendra being run by Anand has also been cancelled, she added. According to the BDO, the entire amount has also been recovered in the case of Rupesh Ghasi but no FIR has been filed against him due to technical reasons that he was merely an employee at the Pragya Kendra and was not using his own ID for filling up the form. We are waiting for the directions from the senior officials, on the basis of which, further action will be taken, said the BDO. In another such case, Dashmi Kumari, a resident of Araju of Jaridih in Bokaro, has written an application to the BDO, requesting that the financial assistance given to her, is being credited into the back account of one Santosh Kumar, whom she does not know. Santosh's account number has been entered instead of her bank account number, and hence, the money should be recovered from Santosh Kumar and transferred to her account, she said. So far, Rs 6500 has been transferred to Santosh's account. Notably, following reports that several women, who are not even eligible for the scheme, have been taking benefits of the scheme, a campaign was launched in the state to identify such people and remove their names from beneficiary list of the scheme. The Directorate of Social Security has asked the DCs of all districts to look into it and delete the names of ineligible beneficiaries and submit a report in this regard. Anganwadi Sevika and Sahayika have been roped in to verify the beneficiaries of the scheme. If any such person is found to be taking benefits of the scheme, she has to return it along with interest. In the process of verification a number of cases came into light taking double benefit and men taking advantage of the scheme. As of now, more than 32000 fake applications have been found all over the state, which are being cancelled. At the same time, over 5000 cases have also been found, where the beneficiaries are taking double benefits (taking benefits of multiple schemes). Notably, Mukhyamantri Mainiya Samman Yojana, the flagship programme of Hemant Soren Govenment, launched in August this year, is an ambitious scheme of the state government, under which, all women aged between 21 to 50 years in the state are getting financial assistance of Rs 1000 every month in their bank accounts through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). But, looking at its popularity before the Assembly polls, the financial assistance was increased to Rs 2500 from Rs 1000. The much awaited first installment of Rs 2500 under Mainiya Samman Yojana were transferred to the bank accounts of 56.62 lakh women through direct benefit transfer (DBT) on January 6. Chief Minister Hemant Soren transferred Rs 11415.44 crore to the bank accounts of 56.62 lakh women during a grand programme organised in Ranchi.

11 out of 47 workers stuck in Cameroon in central Africa brought to Jharkhand

RANCHI: The Jharkhand government said 11 of the 47 workers stranded in Cameroon in central Africa were brought to the state and efforts were underway for the safe return of the remaining labourers. The development comes after the state government filed FIRs against a Mumbai-based firm and some middlemen for alleged non-payment of wages to 47 workers from the state, who were stuck in the African country. Eleven out of 47 migrant workers from Jharkhand, stranded in Cameroon, were brought to the state as per instructions of Chief Minister Hemant Soren. All the workers were sent to their homes by the Labour Department. The return of the remaining 36 workers is also being ensured, a statement from the chief minister's secretariat said on Sunday. @HemantSorenJMM 47 11 36 pic.twitter.com/LmclI7yna1 Office of Chief Minister, Jharkhand (@JharkhandCMO) December 29, 2024 Earlier this month, the labour commissioner had filed the FIRs at Hazaribag, Bokaro and Giridih police stations against middlemen and employers following a direction from Soren who had received complaints that these workers did not receive their wages for three months. After the government took action, the process to make payment of wages to the workers was initiated, the statement said. The control room team has been continuously contacting the officials, the company and workers through email and phone, and the total outstanding amount of Rs 39.77 lakh has been paid to the workers, the statement said. It alleged that the employers and middlemen sent these workers to Cameroon without registering them under the Inter-State Migrant Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1979, and without obtaining the required licence. The workers drew the attention of the CM for non-payment of their wages for three months, following which the State Migrant Control Room contacted the workers and the employers. The state government has sought the contract and wage details of the workers, besides other documents. Efforts were being made to ensure the safe return of workers and the Ministry of External Affairs has been informed about it, the statement added.

Five killed, three injured in road accident in Jharkhand's Bokaro

BOKARO: Five people were killed and three others injured after their vehicle hit a truck at the Bokaro-Ramgarh National highway in Jharkhand, a police officer said on Saturday. The accident occurred near the Dantu village under Bokaro's Kashmar police station area on Friday late evening. Bermo Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) BN Singh said that the four-wheeler hit the truck, which was stuck in a road blockade, from behind. Around eight people were travelling in the four-wheeler, of which five people were killed, the SDPO said. Singh said that the injured were admitted to Sadar hospital for treatment. A hospital official said that altogether eight people were brought to the hospital, of which five were brought dead. Before this accident, another accident took place on the road in which a person was killed and local people had blocked the road in protest, he said.

Jharkhand government files FIR against Mumbai firm, five brokers for Cameroon job fraud

RANCHI: The Jharkhand Government has lodged FIRs against Mumbai-based M/s Transrail Lighting Limited and five middlemen for fraudulently sending 47 workers from the State to work in Cameroon (Central Africa). The labour department swung into action after the direction of Chief Minister Hemant Soren, who had received a complaint regarding the non-payment of wages to 47 migrant workers from Jharkhand, currently stranded in Cameroon. According to an official statement released by the state government, the process to ensure payment of wages to these Jharkhand workers stranded in Cameroon has also begun. The Labour Commissioner has filed FIRs in Hazaribagh, Bokaro, and Giridih. According to the FIR, employers and middlemen sent these workers to Cameroon without registering them under the Inter-State Migrant Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1979, and without obtaining the required license. This fraudulent and illegal act of sending workers abroad under false pretences has been strongly condemned. The five middlemen named in the FIR are Mannan (Mumbai), Akash, Satwik, Vijay Mahto and Mahesh. Notably, the Chief Minister was informed a few days ago about complaints from Jharkhand workers employed in M/s Transrail Lighting Limited, Cameroon. According to them, their wages had been pending for three months and they wished to return to India. Taking a swift action after receiving the information, the chief minister directed the State Migrant Control Room to take steps to ensure the safe return of the migrant labourers. Following the Chief Ministers orders, the State Migrant Control Room, under the guidance of the Labor Commissioner, contacted the workers and the employer company. The company revealed that they had paid the workers USD 100 per month and assured them that the remaining wages would be transferred to their Indian bank accounts. The workers have since confirmed receiving partial payments. In addition, the State Migrant Control Room has instructed the company to provide copies of the workers contracts, salary details, and other necessary documents. The Labor Department has also sent letters to the Protector of Emigrants (POE), Ranchi, and other relevant departments, requesting appropriate action. The company has assured the authorities of resolving the outstanding wage payments by consulting the sub-contractor. The remaining amounts will be deposited into the workers Indian accounts. Meanwhile, efforts are being made to ensure the safe return of these workers. The High Commission and Ministry of External Affairs of the Government of India have been informed about the situation.

Bokaros Forgotten Displaced People

Shweta Singh of the Congress party, has emerged as a beacon of hope, becoming the first woman MLA of Bokaro.

India can reduce $2 billion import of coking coal per annum: Niti Aayog

Cooking oils contain saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. Cooking oils contain saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. Chennai: Integrated Steel Plants imported 58 million tonnes of coking coal at a cost of approximately Rs. 1.5 lakh crore in FY24 despite holding proven geological resources of 21.63 billion tonnes of prime and medium coking coal, finds Niti Aayog. If the government takes required action to enhance domestic production, the coking coal import bill will be reduced by $2 billion per annum based on a landing price of $300 per tonne for imported prime coking coal, it said. As of April 2023, Indias proved geological resources of prime coking coal were estimated to be 5.13 billion tonnes and medium coking coal to be 16.5 billion tonnes. However, out of the 238 million tonnes of coal imported into India during FY23, coking coal alone accounted for 56 MT. In FY 24, coking coal imports set a record of 58 MT. The total value of coking coal imports into India crossed Rs 1 lakh crore for the first time in FY22 and stood at Rs 1.5 lakh crore in FY24. Ministry of Steel can review the suboptimal utilisation of SAILs existing coking coal mines and washeries and upgrade the existing washeries or establish new washeries with advanced technology to enhance the import substitution of coking coal in SAILs steel plants and reduce hot metal costs, Niti Aayog said. Indias import dependence on coking coal is about 85 per cent. The raw coal throughput to the washeries owned by PSUs, which have a total capacity of 25 million tonnes per annum while the total raw coking coal production was 55 MT from PSU coal mines. Therefore, the capacity utilisation of PSU washeries was less than 32 per cent in FY23 while the washed coal yields were only 35-36 per cent. This is in stark contrast to the performance of the four private coking coal washeries which have a capacity utilization of 75 per cent and higher washed coal yields. While the Centre has announced a rebate of 50 per cent on the final offer for the coal used for gasification and liquefaction, there is no incentive for producing metallurgical coal. In the absence of such incentives, the newly auctioned commercial coal blocks will sell the raw coking coal without making investments in modern coking coal washeries required for supplying metallurgical coal to steel plants or coke ovens. The government can also think about joint ventures with the private sector. The annual savings in the coking coal bill of ISPs by using private sector investments to develop integrated mining, beneficiation, and logistics coking coal projects in the West Bokaro coalfield alone is estimated to be Rs 8000 - 10,000 crore. This will also significantly increase the revenues accruing to the state in the form of royalty, district mineral fund, and GST.

Her story: Record number of women MLAs in Jharkhand House

RANCHI: The Jharkhand Assembly will witness the maximum number of women MLAs. Out of 26 women candidates fielded by the INDIA bloc and NDA together, a dozen have made it to the Assembly. In 2019, the Assembly had 10 women MLAs. Every Assembly in the state has seen an increasing number of women MLAs since Jharkhand was formed 24 years ago. In 2000, it had three woman MLAs, while in 2005 the number rose to eight and in 2014, the number went up to nine. Among the 12 elected, a maximum of five women MLAs came on the Congress ticket, while four, belong to BJP ticket. The three remaining women MLAs are from the JMM. They include Hemant Sorens wife Kalpana, former BJP minister Dr Lois Marandi and Sabita Mahato. Among these 12 women, Nisat Alam of the Congress has the credit of winning Pakur seat with a maximum margin of more than 86,000 votes. Nisat Alam, wife of former minister Alamgir Alam who is currently lodged in jail in a money laundering case linked to a tender scam, contested the election for the first time on her husbands seat. Another woman, Shweta Singh, daughter-in-law of Congress leader Samresh Singh, also got elected from Bokaro by defeating BJPs Biranchi Narayan by 7,207 votes. The most prominent face among the women MLAs, however, is Kalpana Soren, wife of Chief Minister Hemant Soren, who made it to the Jharkhand Assembly for the second consecutive term by defeating Muniya Devi of BJP with a margin of 17,142 votes. Former minister Deepikia Pandey Singh has been elected again from the Mahgama Assembly constituency by defeating BJPs Ashok Kumar with a margin of 18,645. Former BJP minister Louis Marandi, who switched to the JMM after being denied ticket by the BJP ahead of the Assembly elections, has also been elected from the Jama seat. Similarly, Shilpi Neha Tirkey, who contested on a Congress ticket, is elected from Mardar seat for the second time. Sorens leave for Delhi to invite PM for oath ceremony Hemant Sornen and his wife Kalpana Soren left on Monday for Delhi to invite PM Narendra Modi, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and other dignitaries for his oath taking ceremony on Thursday.

2nd Phase of Polling in Jkhand Sees 68% Turnout

New Delhi: Jharkhand witnessed peaceful polling in 38 seats in the second and final phase of Assembly elections on Wednesday, with 68 per cent of 1.23 crore voters exercising their franchise amid tight security, officials said. The turnout surpassed the 67.04 per cent voting in 2019, officials said. The tribal state recorded higher voter turnout than that of 2019 and saw people queuing up in huge numbers to vote. Among them were 57 leprosy patients who voted at the Snehpur Community Building in Mihijam. The booth was decorated with vibrant confetti and had arrangements of refreshments for them. Polling began at 7 am in 14,218 booths across 12 districts and continued till 5 pm. However, polling in 31 booths ended at 4 pm. The ruling JMM-led I.N.D.I.A. bloc is seeking to retain power riding on its welfare schemes, while the BJP-headed National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is trying to wrest it. Chief Electoral Officer K. Ravi Kumar said, The election process was peaceful and remained free of incidents. Two FIRs were lodged for violating secrecy of voting against polling and presiding officers, including one in Gandey. Meanwhile, a presiding officer was replaced after allegations of favouring a candidate. Jharkhand BJP MP Nishikant Dubey said he had filed a complaint with the Election Commission against a presiding officer for allegedly favouring a ruling party candidate in Madhupur Assembly constituency during voting. However, the Deoghar administration said the officer was replaced after being found too close to the voting compartment, which is against Election Commission rules. The highest turnout of 76.16 per cent was reported from Jamtara district, followed by 76.60 per cent from Pakur, 72.46 per cent from Deoghar and 72.04 per cent from Ranchi. The lowest turnout was recorded in Bokaro district at 60.97 per cent till 5 pm.

Final phase of Jharkhand polls records 67.59% turnout

Polling was peaceful; Maheshpur records highest turnout of 79.4%, whereas Bokaro seat registers 50.52%

No violence recorded for the first time in Jharkhand assembly polls

RANCHI: In a major achievement, for the first time after the formation of Jharkhand, Assembly polls were conducted here without any incident of Maoist violence. The second phase of polling concluded peacefully for 38 Assembly seats in Jharkhand on Wednesday with an overall voter turnout of 67.59 %. Out of the 38 seats where polling was conducted in the second phase, BJP contested 32 and AJSU contested six seats from NDA side, while JMM contested 20, Congress 12, RJD two and CPI (ML) on four seats from the INDIA bloc. According to Additional Chief Electoral Officer Dr Neha Arora, Maheshpur remained on the top with a maximum voting percentage of 79.4 per cent followed by Nala with 78.75 per cent and Sarath with 77.94 per cent. The lowest voter turnout on the other hand, was recorded at Bokaro with 50.52 per cent, Dhanbad with 52.31 per cent and Jharia with 55.23 per cent, she said. All constituencies except Bokaro, Dhanbad and Jharia recorded more than 60 per cent voter turnout, said the Additional Chief Electoral Officer. A total of 134 ballot units, 161 control units, and 377 VVPATs were replaced by 3 pm during polling, she added. Meanwhile, on the orders of the Election Commission, an FIR was registered against presiding officer Ramanand Kumar Paswan, posted at polling station number 111 of Madhupur assembly constituency, following a complaint was registered against him. Paswan was taken into custody immediately after that. A complaint was received against him for conducting votes in favour of the JMM candidate, which was confirmed through webcasting. ACEO Dr Neha Arora said that another officer was posted in his place. A total of 528 candidates are in the fray in the second phase, out of which 472 are men and 55 are women. Voting was completed at 14219 polling stations, which were monitored through webcasting from the State Election Building and the District Election Office. Jharkhand: Its infiltration vs mahila samman as 38 seats up for grabs in 2nd phase

Jharkhand: Its infiltration vs mahila samman as 38 seats up for grabs in 2nd phase

RANCHI: Voting in the second phase in Jharkhands 38 constituencies in a dozen districts on Wednesday will test the campaign pitches of the BJP-led alliance over the Bangla infiltration and the JMMs Mahila Samman scheme under which Rs 1,000 are given each month to women in the 18-50 years age group. Out of 38 seats, 18 each are in Santhal Pargana and North Chhotanagpur and two in Ranchi. According to the Election Commission, 528 candidates are in the fray of which 55 are women. Chief Minister Hemant Soren, his wife Kalpana Soren and former CM Babulal Marandi are key contestants. The BJPs campaign revolved around accusing the ruling alliance of encouraging Bangladeshi infiltration that has allegedly changed the demographic character of Santhal Pargana. The BJP lost power to the JMM-led alliance in 2019. The JMM countered the BJP by labeling its narrative as motivated and called candidates outsiders. JMM and Congress leaders have told tribals that the outsider BJP was trying to spoil and divide the social structure of Santhal Pargana. The ruling alliance is equally banking on Mahila Samman. In the 2019 assembly elections, of the total 81 seats, the JMM won 29 and the BJP 25 seats. The Congress won 18 seats and RJD won one. An alliance of JMM-Congress-RJD formed the government. According to an ADR report, out of 522, 148 (28%) candidates have criminal cases registered against them. At the same time, there are 23% i.e. 122 candidates have serious cases registered against them. These cases involve murders and kidnappings. At least three candidates have murder cases. There are 12 candidates against whom cases related to atrocities against women have been registered. Out of these 12 candidates, rape has been registered against one of them. Among constituencies, Dumka has the most women-managed polling booths (52), followed by Jamtara (31) and Bokaro (23). Silli has 14 such booths, while Khijri has none.

BJP Leaders Push Mati, Beti, Roti Agenda in Jharkhand Polls

New Delhi: Given the spike in the first phase polling percentage, the BJP has grown in confidence of returning to power in Jharkhand. The party feels that its mati, beti, roti push in the tribal-dominated state has resonated well with the electorate and the extensive campaigning by its top leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh and BJP chief J.P. Nadda, who held public rallies in Jharkhand on Sunday, will give it a clear edge in the second phase of the ongoing state polls. In the first phase of polling on November 13, Jharkhand witnessed a turnout of 66.6 per cent in 43 Assembly constituencies, around three per cent higher than in the 2019 Assembly polls. Citing the surge, a senior BJP functionary said that the increased voting percentage shows that people came out to overthrow the Hemant Soren government in Jharkhand. Peoples anger against the JMM misgovernance, corruption and appeasement are the reasons behind high voter turnout. Increased voter turnout is against the incumbent Hemant Soren government. The ground report received from across the states says the BJP-led NDA government will comfortably form the next Jharkhand government, the saffron party leader said, asserting that more people will come out in the second phase of polling to throw out the incumbent JMM-led state government. A BJP insider said that the mati, beti, roti slogan has resonated well with the electorate and has emerged to be one of the biggest issues in the ongoing Assembly polls. Top BJP leaders, including Mr Modi, have repeatedly pointed out that changing demographics of Jharkhand because of unchecked illegal infiltrations jeopardize the state's and the nations security and have attributed it to the JMM and the Congress alliance's hunger for power. In the run-up to the Jharkhand elections, Mr Modi has held over half-a-dozen rallies in the state and has repeated the BJP's call that it is time to hrow out the incumbent government to protect mati, beti, roti. Other BJP leaders have also harped on the illegal infiltration issue. A case in point, the Union home minister had said that the BJP will bring in a law to take back land from infiltrators in Jharkhand and identify and deport the illegal immigrants. He claimed that mati, beti, roti are under threat from the illegal immigrants and the BJP will provide security to the indigenous people. Electorate believes that our mati, beti, roti are under threat due to unchecked infiltration under the JMM-led coalition. People further believe that only the BJP can protect mati, beti, roti under the strong leadership of Mr Modi, Mr Shah has often reiterated at his rallies in Jharkhand. As Jharkhand prepares for the second phase of polling on November 20, the BJP chief, addressing election rallies at Gomia in Bokaro district on Sunday, pushed ahead with a similar narrative. Mr Nadda claimed that according to an intelligence report, the JMM-led coalition government in Jharkhand gave shelter to Bangladeshi infiltrators in madrasas and ensured that they got land and government documents like Aadhaar cards. Mr Nadda also hit out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, saying that he talks about the Other Backward Classes during the elections but has not done anything for their welfare. He questioned how many OBC members were in the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, a social service organisation headed by senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, and the National Advisory Committee of the erstwhile UPA regime. I say with pride that there are 27 OBC ministers in Mr Modi's Cabinet, he said, claiming that the NDA government is bringing OBCs, tribals and SCs to the mainstream. The BJP chief attacked Congress and the JMM, the two main constituents of the ruling coalition of Jharkhand, during his addresses at three election rallies during the day. The BJP-led government at the Centre spent `19-lakh crores to augment infrastructure and will spend `10-lakh crores more on it, he added. I have received an intelligence report just now. It says that Bangladeshi infiltrators are given shelter in madrasas here. Their Aadhaar, voter ID, gas connection and ration cards are facilitated, and then the Hemant Soren government ensures land for them, he said. Waiving a paper claiming to be the intelligence report, Mr Nadda said, Mr Soren looted 'jal, jungle, jameen' (water, forest, land) of Jharkhand. Infiltration is rampant here. Infiltrators are marrying tribal women and grabbing their land. We will bring a law to ensure that their offspring are debarred from getting the land. Only the PM Modi-led BJP government can check infiltration. Charging the Hemant Soren government with promoting infiltration, Mr Nadda said that if the BJP is voted to power, a law will be enacted to check the transfer of land to the offspring of infiltrators who marry tribal women. Mr Nadda also termed the JMM-RJD-Congress alliance as a family of corrupt people, claiming that INDIA bloc leaders were either in jail or out on bail.

Nadda claims 'intel report' shows Jharkhand govt sheltering 'Bangladeshi infiltrators'

BOKARO/DHANBAD/JAMTARA: BJP president J P Nadda on Sunday claimed that according to an intelligence report, the JMM-led coalition government in Jharkhand gave shelter to Bangladeshi infiltrators in madrasas and ensured that they got land and government documents like Aadhaar card. Nadda also hit out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi saying that he wants to become champion of Other Backward Classes, but questioned how many OBC members were in Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, a social service organisation headed by Sonia Gandhi, and the National Advisory Committee of the erstwhile UPA regime. The BJP president attacked Congress and the JMM, the two main constituents of the ruling coalition of Jharkhand, during his addresses at three election rallies during the day. I have received an intelligence report just now. It says that Bangladeshi infiltrators are given shelter in madrasas here. Their Aadhaar, voter ID, gas connection and ration card are facilitated and then the Hemant Soren government ensures land for them, he said. Shah slams Soren for decline in tribal population While addressing a rally at Gomia in Bokaro district, Nadda who is also the union health minister, waived a paper claiming to be the intelligence report. Hemant Soren looted 'Jal, Jungle, Jameen' (water, forest, land) of Jharkhand. Infiltration is rampant here. Infiltrators are marrying tribal women and grabbing their land. We will bring a law to ensure that their offspring is debarred from getting the land. Only PM Modi-led BJP government can check infiltration, the BJP president said. He also termed the entire JMM-RJD-Congress as a family of corrupt people, claiming that INDIA bloc leaders were either in jail or out on bail. Hemant Soren, who is out on bail, will again go to prison. He is indulged in Rs 5,000-crore mining scam, Rs 236-crore land scam, and several other scams, Nadda alleged. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had arrested Soren on January 31 in a money laundering case linked to a land scam. He was released from jail on June 28 after the high court granted him bail. The Hemant Soren government followed 'divide and rule' policy and created unrest among people. Now it is time for their exit. We will be forming the government here, Nadda claimed. EC seeks responses from Nadda, Kharge over poll code violation complaints He accused the Hemant Soren government of betraying the people, looting the state and promoting dynastic politics. Asserting that Rahul Gandhi was trying to portray himself as a champion of OBCs, the BJP leader questioned how many OBC members were in the Congress Working Committee, Rajiv Gandhi Foundation and National Advisory Committee, which was chaired by his mother Sonia Gandhi. I say with pride that there are 27 OBC ministers in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Cabinet, he said claiming that the NDA government is bringing OBCs, tribals and SCs to the mainstream. The BJP-led government at the Centre spent Rs 19 lakh crore to augment infrastructure and will spend Rs 10 lakh crore more on it, he added. Nadda also said that under the Modi regime, agriculture budget increased by five times and India became the third-largest automobile manufacturer, second-largest steel maker, third-biggest market for toys and produces the world's most affordable drugs. He said five medical colleges were being set up in Jharkhand and PM Modi allocated Rs 250 crore each for them. Addressing another rally at Sindri in Dhanbad district, Nadda alleged: Selfish motives were behind the formation of the JMM-Cong-RJD alliance. It is anti-tribal, anti-farmer and anti-Dalit. It promotes corruption, dynastic politics and appeasement for vote bank politics. Charging the Hemant government with promoting infiltration, Nadda said that if BJP is voted to power, a law would be enacted to check transfer of land to the offspring of infiltrators who marry tribal women. He alleged that the Hemant Soren government indulged in Rs 4,000 crore Jal Jeevan Mission scam, Rs 5,000 crore mining scam and Rs 236 crore land scam. The Union minister said it was time for formation of a double-engine government in Jharkhand to accelerate growth and development in Jharkhand. Nadda said once the BJP government was formed in the state, a number of development initiatives would begin. He said that under PM Modi's regime, export of medicines rose 138 per cent while India is manufacturing 97 per cent of mobile phones. He added that 1.46 lakh km of national highways were built under Modi's regime while 61 Vande Bharat Express trains were launched. Betrayed by the corrupt JMM-led coalition, Jharkhand people have decided to teach it a lesson, Nadda said in his third rally at Nala in Jamtara urging people to oust the coalition. He hit out at the Congress for claiming to be the wellwisher of OBCs, and claimed that it is PM Modi who has given constitutional status to National Commission for Backward Classes. Previous govts pursued vote bank politics, we ensured people's faith was restored: PM Modi

Unemployment, inflation on rise in BJP regime in country: Tejaswhi

Tejashwi Yadav accuses BJP of rising unemployment, inflation, and spreading hatred in Bokaro election rally

Intel report says Bangladeshis given shelter in Jharkhand madrasas: JP Nadda at Bokaro rally

BJP president J P Nadda accused the JMM-led Jharkhand government of harboring Bangladeshi infiltrators, facilitating their acquisition of official documents, and even land ownership. He vowed to introduce legislation to prevent land ownership for offspring of infiltrators who marry tribal women. Nadda also criticized the government's alleged corruption and divisive policies, predicting their downfall in the upcoming elections.

Intel report says Bdeshis given shelter in madrasas, Soren Govt facilitated Aadhaar, land: Nadda

BOKARO (Jharkhand), Nov 17: BJP president J P Nadda on Sunday attacked the JMM-led coalition Government in Jharkhand, accusing it of sheltering Bangladeshi infiltrators in madrasas in the state and ensuring Aadhaar, voter ID card, gas connection, ration card and land for them. Nadda also hit out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi saying he wants to become champion of OBCs, but questioned how many OBC members were in Rajiv Gandhi Foundation and National Advisory Committee. I have received an intelligence [] The post Intel report says Bdeshis given shelter in madrasas, Soren Govt facilitated Aadhaar, land: Nadda appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

If Congress wins, wont let anyone snatch jal, jungle & zameen of tribals: Rahul

RANCHI/MUMBAI : Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of serving the interests of billionaires who want to snatch the jal, jungle and zameen (land, water and forests) of tribals. Gandhi also charged Modi with seeking to destroy the Constitution which is the soul of the country. PM Modi says Rahul is flashing a red book. Its content is important, not the colour. Had you read it, you would not have been spreading hatred and dividing society, Gandhi said in a rally in Godda district. It is a fight of ideology between the INDIA bloc and BJP-RSS. We are protecting the Constitution and BJP-RSS is trying to dump it in the trash bin. They are spreading violence and trying to divide society on the basis of caste, creed and religion, he alleged. Addressing another rally at Bermo in Bokaro, Gandhi said the Congress, if voted to power, will ensure caste census and remove the 50% cap on the reservation. He promised to increase reservation of STs, SCs and OBCs to 28%, 12% and 27%, respectively. Rs 7,000 per quintal promise for soyabean Rahul said the MVA is going to take historic steps for the farmers of Maharashtra by fixing Rs 7,000 per quintal plus bonus for soyabean. He said the MVA will form a committee to fix fair price for onions and right MSP for cotton as well. Gandhi said for the last three elections, the BJP has been promising an MSP of Rs 6,000 for soyabean but even today farmers are forced to sell the soybean grown with their hard work for Rs 3,000-4,000. MVA will give our farmers their rights, fruits of hard work and justice, Gandhi said in a post.

Ensure Level Playing Field in Campaign, Cong. Urges EC

New Delhi/Ranchi: The Congress on Friday complained to the Election Commission against the alleged grounding of party leader Rahul Gandhi's helicopter in poll-bound Jharkhand and sought its urgent intervention in ensuring a level playing field in poll campaigning. In a letter to the EC, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh alleged that Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi's chopper was not allowed to take off due to restrictions leading to his public meetings getting either delayed or cancelled. There should be a level-playing field in campaigning. The PM's campaign cannot take precedence over that of all others. Today Rahul Gandhi got delayed in Jharkhand on this account, Ramesh said in a post on X. Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday yet again attacked the BJP for conspiring to destroy the Indian Constitution, and also targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that he only served the interests of billionaires at the expense of the poor people of India. Addressing election rallies for the second phase in Jharkhand, he claimed that while the Opposition INDIA bloc was fighting to protect the Constitution, the BJP was trying to dump it in the trash bin. He also said that Mr Modi worked for the welfare of billionaires in the country and privatised institutions, colleges, industries, hospitals and ports, not for the poor. Speaking at a rally at Mahagama in Godda district, he asserted that he was not afraid of Mr Modi or his 56-inch chest. Mr Gandhi said: He is a puppet of billionaires. He also accused the PM of giving lessons to people during the day and enjoying the weddings of industrialists at night. The Congress leader claimed that the Uddhav Thackeray-led government in Maharashtra was toppled to grab land and that Mr Modi was trying to hand over land worth Rs 1 lakh crores in Mumbais Dharavi slum to an industrialist. PM Modi says Rahul is flashing a red book. Its content is important, not the colour. Had you read it, you would not have been spreading hatred and dividing society, Mr Gandhi said. It is a fight of ideology between the INDIA bloc and the BJP-RSS. We are protecting the Constitution and the BJP-RSS is trying to dump it in the trash bin. They are spreading violence and trying to divide society on the basis of caste, creed and religion, he alleged. Advocating the need for a nationwide caste census, the senior Congress leader claimed it would change the face of India. The caste census would reveal positions of tribals, Dalits and OBCs in various institutions, he said, adding a caste census is bound to happen. We will demolish the 50 per cent reservation ceiling, PM Modi can do whatever he can, he added. He also targeted the BJP over the arrest of JMM leader Hemant Soren, and said: A tribal CM elected by you was put behind bars in Jharkhand. In another rally at Bermo in Bokaro district, he said that the Constitution was the soul of the country. Prime Minister Modi says it is blank inside. Look at this, it has content. He says Rahul shows a red book; its content is important and not the colour, Mr Gandhi said, displaying a copy of the Constitution. PM Modi wants to destroy the Constitution, but no power can do it, Mr Gandhi noted at the rally. Mr Modi had made the countrys youth unemployed through GST and demonetisation, he alleged. If we are voted to power in Jharkhand, we will raise the reservation of STs to 28 per cent from the present 26 per cent, SCs to 12 per cent from 10 per cent at present and OBCs to 27 per cent from the existing 14 per cent, he claimed. The BJP has been accusing the Congress leader of displaying a fake copy of the Constitution with blank pages at an event in Maharashtra recently.

PM Modi put last nail in coffin of terrorism, govt set to eliminate Maoists: Yogi Adityanath

Bokaro: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday accused the JMM-led coalition government in Jharkhand of aiding Bangladeshi infiltrators and Rohingyas in the state and asserted that the BJP, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was the only solution to stop this. Addressing a rally in Bermo, Bokaro, Adityanath said, The JMM, Congress, and RJD are helping Rohingyas and Bangladeshi infiltrators enter Jharkhand. They are grabbing land here by marrying tribal girls. The BJP under PM Modi is the only solution to this problem. He also credited the BJP government for providing security to the nation's 140 crore citizens and emphasised the government's strong stance on terrorism. Under Modi, the Ayodhya issue was resolved in two years. The country has become so powerful under his leadership that neighbouring countries like Pakistan have stopped provoking us, Adityanath said. The world's most powerful leadership is with you, no one who provokes India will be spared. PM Modi put the last nail in the coffin of terrorism and the government is set to eliminate the Maoists, he said, appealing people to vote for the BJP. He also alleged that INDI alliance has designs to divide communities by pitting them against each other. Batenge to katenge; Ek rahenge to safe rahenge (If divided we will be wiped out, if together, we will be safe), he added.

Campaign ends for phase I of Jharkhand polls

New Delhi: Campaign ended on Monday for the first phase of assembly polls in Jharkhand and bypolls in Wayanad parliamentary seat and assembly seats across several states with leaders making strong efforts to woo the electorate. Priyanka Gandhi is making her electoral debut from Wayanad, the Lok Sabha seat won her brother Rahul Gandhi, who decided to retain the party's traditional seat of Raebareli in Uttar Pradesh. Jharkhand will go to the polls on two phases on November 13 and 20. Forty-three seats will go the polls in the first phase. Campaigning in the state, Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched a scathing attack on Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and accused him of humiliating Champai Soren. Champai Soren has been loyal for so many years, standing with Hemantji, but how he was humiliated and removed is not just an insult to Champai Soren but an insult to the entire tribal community. The main issue was that Champai Soren stated that corruption should stop, but the JMM was not willing to end it, he alleged. The Union Minister further said that if BJP is voted into power in Jharkhand, a law would be brought to prevent the transfer of land to infiltrators, even if they marry tribal women. The illegal immigrants are taking up the jobs meant for tribals of the state... The infiltrators are dangerous for our daughters, our resources, and our land... When we form the government, we will bring a law that will prohibit the immigrant from registering tribal land in his name, even if he marries a tribal girl. We will make the immigrant give back the acquired land. Shah also accused Hemant Soren of vote bank politics and said Bangladeshi infiltrators were coming to the state. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also alleged that mafias are rapidly growing in Jharkhand and claimed that only the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) can ensure both security and governance in the state. Adityanath cited the law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh and highlighted how the authorities were strictly dealing with the miscreants. Mafias are flourishing in Jharkhand. Uttar Pradesh is right next to you. Go and see; no one will play with the law and order because if someone does so or tries to disrupt a festival, then the ticket to Yamraj is booked. (The accused are dealt with very strictly). Whether it is security or good governance, only the BJP can provide it, CM Yogi said while addressing a gathering in Bhawanathpur. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav also took a dig at the Congress Hemant Soren. He addressed a public gathering in Chinia in Garhwa district. Even during the difficult times of British rule, Birsa Munda did a great job from the land of Jharkhand but it is unfortunate to say that Congress and Hemant Soren are hungry for power..., he said. On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a road show in Ranchi and two rallies--one in Bokaro and another in Gumla--where he slammed Congress and its allies for attempting to create a divide between SCs, STs, and OBCs. Congress leaders including party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi also campaigned in Jharkhand in the run-up to the first phase of polling. Congress on Sunday lodged a complaint with the Election Commission of India (ECI) against the BJP, accusing the party of posting a misleading advertisement on social media that contained false information about the leaders of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Indian National Congress (INC), and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). Following the complaint, a FIR has been registered at the cybercrime police station in Ranchi for violation of Model Code of Conduct (MCC) guidelines over a video posted on a social media handle of the BJP's Jharkhand wing. Sources said FIR no 176/24 dated 10.11.2024 has been filed at the Ranchi cybercrime police station for violation of MCC guidelines and extant legal provisions. Additionally, the cybercrime police station Ranchi, in a letter dated 10.11.2024, requested social media platforms to remove the objectionable posts under Section 69(A) of the Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000. Earlier in the day, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh hit out at BJP, saying that the party's campaign is devoid of issues and focused solely on communal polarization. The INDIA coalition's campaign in Jharkhand is centred around our government's achievements in the last five years and our seven guarantees - ranging from enhanced food rations to honorariums for women and new degree colleges in each block. We are focused on our governance and our vision for a just, inclusive, and prosperous Jharkhand, he wrote on X. The BJP's campaign is devoid of issues and focuses solely on communal polarisation. It is an indictment of the Union Government's performance that after ten years in power, the BJP is seeking votes only on religious polarisation. The non-biological PM has failed miserably to fulfil the promises he made to the state over the past ten years. Worse, he has denied almost Rs 1.4 lakh crore, which is legitimately due to Jharkhand on account of coal royalty, the Congress leader added. Jairam Ramesh said the people will reject BJP in the assembly polls. On November 13th and 20th, the people of Jharkhand will vote decisively for continuity, communal harmony, social justice, and self-dignity. They will reject the wholly negative and disgusting campaign of the BJP, he said. Meanwhile, a roadshow was held in Sultan Bathery, Wayanad that included Priyanka Gandhi Rahul Gandhi, who is Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition, was also present. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is contesting against Left Democratic Front (LDF) candidate Satyan Mokeri and BJP's Navya Haridas in the by-polls. Chelakkara Assembly seat in Thrissur district is also going to the polls on November 13. A total of 34 seats will see bypolls on November 13. Bypolls will also be held for West Bengal's six assembly seats--Naihati, Haroa, Medinipur, Taldangra, Sitai and Madarihat Earlier, 48 constituencies were scheduled to go to for bypolls on November 13, but the Election Commission of India rescheduled the poll date in 14 Assembly constituencies in three states -- Kerala, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh -- to November 20 following large-scale social, cultural and religious engagements of people from various communities

Rs 5,000 crore loss to taxpayers, 47 FIRs against Jharkhand officials in past 2 years; major corruption and scam cases under Hemant Soren govt

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed an election rally for the Jharkhand Assembly polls in Bokaro on Sunday, November 10th, and promised the addresses that the BJP would ensure corruption-free government in the state.

Congress & its allies want to reinstate Art 370 in J&K: PM Modi

Ek Rahenge Toh Safe Rahenge BOKARO: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday attacked the Congress and its allies for seeking to reinstate Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. The Congress and its allies want to bring back Article 370 so that Babasahebs Constitution is once again out of Jammu and Kashmir, and our soldiers again [] The post Congress & its allies want to reinstate Art 370 in J&K: PM Modi appeared first on Northlines .

PM Modi enthralls people with 3-km mega roadshow in Ranchi

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in a 3-km roadshow in Ranchi, Jharkhand, drawing thousands of supporters. The event featured chanting, music, and displays of BJP support. Modi addressed rallies in Bokaro and Gumla, promising development and criticizing the ruling coalition. Security measures were heightened for the event, with prohibitory orders and a no-flying zone in place.

Ek rahoge toh safe rahoge: PM Modi at poll campaign in Jharkhand

Bokaro: Alleging that the Congress-JMM coalition wanted to divide OBCs by pitting sub-castes against each other, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, November 10, told an election rally in Jharkhand ek rahoge toh safe rahoge (be united to be safe). Addressing the rally in Bokaro, Modi claimed that till there was no unity between OBCs, Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Ek Rahoge Toh Safe Rahoge: PM Alleges Congress-JMM Pitting OBC Sub-Castes Against Each Other

BOKARO, Nov 10: Alleging that the Congress-JMM coalition wanted to divide OBCs by pitting sub-castes against each other, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday told an election rally in Jharkhand ek rahoge toh safe rahoge (be united to be safe). Addressing the rally in Bokaro, Modi claimed that till there was no unity between OBCs, tribals and Dalits, the Congress kept forming governments at the Centre. Beware of Congress-JMMs evil designs and conspiracies. They can go to any extent to [] The post Ek Rahoge Toh Safe Rahoge: PM Alleges Congress-JMM Pitting OBC Sub-Castes Against Each Other appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

'If we remain together, we will remain safe': PM Modi's warning to OBCs at election rally in Jharkhand

BOKARO: Alleging that the Congress-JMM coalition wanted to divide OBCs by pitting sub-castes against each other, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday told an election rally in Jharkhand ' ek rahoge toh safe rahoge ' (be united to be safe). Addressing the rally in Bokaro, Modi claimed that till there was no unity between OBCs, tribals and Dalits, the Congress kept forming governments at the Centre. Beware of Congress-JMM's evil designs and conspiracies. They can go to any extent to snatch power. Congress has been an opponent of SC, ST, and OBC unity since Independence. Till there was no unity, Congress kept forming governments at the Centre and looted the nation, he said. More than 125 sub-castes are considered OBCs in the Chotanagpur region. Congress-JMM wants to break the OBC unity by pitting sub-castes against each other. I warn you ' ek rahoge toh safe rahoge ', he added. The PM also attacked the Congress and its allies for seeking the reinstation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. The Congress and its allies want to bring back Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir so that our soldiers again face the fire of terrorism, he said. Amit Shah releases BJP manifesto for Maharashtra Assembly polls; promises strict anti-conversion law, skill census Modi buried Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. For seven decades, Ambedkar's Constitution was not in force there, he said. It was for the first time that the chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir had taken oath in the name of the Indian Constitution and this was his tribute to Ambedkar, Modi said. He said a BJP-led government was needed in Jharkhand to drive out infiltrators and eradicate corruption. You are hankering for a handful of sand, they are smuggling it, the PM said, attacking the ruling JMM-led coalition in the state. Recruitment mafia and paper leak mafia created by the JMM-led coalition will be sent to jail and those who played with the future of the youth would not be spared, he added.

Those who opposed creation of Jharkhand cant develop it: PM Modi at Bokaro rally

Mr. Modi said that the NDA government is reviving closed industrial units in Jharkhand, ensuring employment for thousands

Modi to hold roadshow and rallies in Jharkhand on Nov 10

RANCHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a mega roadshow of about five km after addressing election rallies at Chandnkiyari in Bokaro and Gumla on November 10. This will mark his second visit to Jharkhand as the BJP seeks to consolidate its position in the state. First phase of polls is scheduled to take place on November 13 and second phase will be held on November 20, while the counting of votes will take place on November 23. Modis road show is expected to start at OTC Ground, proceeding to New Market Chowk in Ranchian area regarded as a stronghold of the BJP. The location carries political significance, being the constituency of Union Minister of State for Defence and Ranchi MP Sanjay Seth, as well as six-time Ranchi MLA CP Singh. The state administration has launched an extensive security operation, mapping all significant points and high-rise buildings along the route. This will be the first-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Chandankiyari, with Modi rallying support for BJP candidate and Leader of the Opposition in the Jharkhand Assembly, Amar Kumar Bauri. Chandankiyari has long been a contested seat, witnessing friction between the BJP and its former ally AJSU Party. Following a reallocation, the seat was retained by the BJP. Former Chandankiyari MLA and ex-minister Umakant Rajaks recent defection from AJSU to Jharkhand Mukti Morcha has further reshuffled the regions political dynamics. Gumla on the other hand, is a critical constituency where former Union Minister Sudarshan Bhagat is contesting for the BJP. In the 2019 elections, the JMM secured Gumla and other nearby constituencies, prompting the BJP to rethink its strategy in tribal regions. Ahead of the visit of Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah will also visit Jharkhand on November 9 and will address three election rallies at Chhatarpur, Hazaribagh and Potka. Rahul Gandhi, however, will be visiting Jharkhand first time after the Assembly polls were declared and will address election rallies on November 8 and 9. Boycott state polls, says PLFI Registering their presence in Jharkhand after a long time, the Peoples Liberation Front of India (PLFI), an offshoot of CPI (Maoist), have put up posters near Ranchi and Khunti calling for a boycott of Assembly polls in Jharkhand. Challenging the police and the administration, the PLFI has put up posters. They were released by PLFIs central panel, and claimed the government has failed to serve the people and urged citizens to destroy rule of police admin.

BJP Leans on Modi for Jharkhand Campaign

NEW DELHI: The BJP is banking on Prime Minister Narendra Modis likely rally in Bokaro and a roadshow in Ranchi on November 10 to tilt the battle of narratives in the saffron partys favour as it labours to pin down the JMM on the illegal Rohingyas and Bangladeshis infiltration issue and faces dare from the incumbent to implement the Sarna Religious Code and 1932 Khatiyan Bill in Jharkhand. The BJP relies heavily on the Prime Ministers charisma to return to power in the poll-bound state. According to party sources, the Prime Minister is all set to visit the state for the second round of campaigning on Sunday. Though the schedule is not final yet, Mr Modi is likely to address a public rally at the Chandipur Football Ground in Chandankiyari in Bokaro district, where he will seek support for the partys candidate and Leader of the Opposition in Jharkhand Legislative Assembly Amar Bauri. The BJP candidates from the nearby constituencies will also be present during the Chandanakiyari rally. Later in the day, the Prime Minister will hold a roadshow in the state capital, Ranchi, the sources added. Earlier, Mr Modi held two rallies in Chaibasa and Garhwa on November 4, wherein he had accused the ruling coalition government of the JMM, the Congress and the RJD of supporting the Bangladeshi infiltrators for their votebank politics. In Jharkhand, while the BJP is attacking the ruling coalition on corruption, illegal infiltration and illegal conversion issues to woo the tribal voters, the JMM-led alliance is playing the Sarna Religious Code card. The JMM has been pitching for Sarna to be considered a separate tribal religious code. In an election rally at Torpa in Khunti district, the JMM MLA Kalpana Soren, the wife of chief minister Hemant Soren, dared the BJP-led Central government to implement the Sarna Religious Code and 1932 Khatiyan Bill passed by the state Assembly in Jharkhand. Aiming to counter the BJPs narratives of illegal Rohingyas and Bangladeshis infiltrations against the ruling coalition in Jharkhand, the JMM has been pitching for these two pending and emotive demands of the Adivasi population. Both bills are pending with the Central government for final approval. In 2020, the JMM-led government passed a unanimous Assembly resolution on the 'Sarna Code for the inclusion of Sarna as a separate religion in the 2021 census and sent it to the Central government for approval. On November 11, last year, the Jharkhand Assembly unanimously passed the 1932-based domicile bill, which specifies that only individuals or their ancestors listed in the Khatiyan (land records) of 1932 or earlier will be recognised as local inhabitants of Jharkhand, entitling them to Class III and Class IV jobs in the state.

Jharkhand Assembly polls: BJP expels 30 leaders for contesting against party-nominated candidates

Chandrma Kumari from Palamu, Kumkum Devi from Hazaribag, Juli Devi from Dumka, Balwant Singh from Latehar, Arvind Singh from Kharswan, Banke Bihari from Hazaribag, Chitranjan Sao from Bokaro and Hazari Prasad Sahu were among those expelled from the party

Jharkhand: BJP expels 30 rebel leaders for going against party lines

RANCHI: Amid damage control measures taken by the party to prevent mass exodus of its leaders in Jharkhand, BJP on Tuesday expelled as many as 30 rebel leaders for going against the party line and filing their nominations against the officially nominated candidates in the upcoming Assembly polls. Under the direction of State BJP President Babulal Marandi, General Secretary and MP Dr Pradeep Verma has expelled the rebel leaders from the party for six years for contesting against officially nominated candidates, which goes against the partys policies. According to a press release issued by the BJP state office, the expelled leaders include: Chandrama Kumari from Palamu Kumkum Devi from Hazaribagh Lakshmi Devi from Palamu Julie Yadav from Dumka Balwant Singh from Latehar Arvind Singh from Kharsawan Bateshwar Mehta from Hazaribagh Bhaiyya Banke Bihari from Hazaribagh Chitranjan Sahu from Bokaro Colonel Sanjay Singh from Palamu Harsh Ajmera from Hazaribagh Hazari Prasad Sahu from Ranchi Rural Misir Kujur from Gumla Mistry Soren from Pakur Mukesh Kumar Shukla from Pakur Pushp Ranjan from Palamu Rajkumar Singh from Jamshedpur Metropolitan Ramavatar Kerketta from Ranchi Rural Ramdev Hembram from East Singhbhum Rameshwar Oraon from Lohardaga Santosh Paswan from Latehar Shivcharan Mahto from Pakur Shivshankar Badaik from Khunti Shiv Shankar Singh from Jamshedpur Surendra Modi from Hazaribagh Upendra Yadav from Garhwa Umesh Bharti from Chatra Vikas Singh from Jamshedpur Metropolitan Vimal Baitha from Jamshedpur Metropolitan Vinod Singh from Palamu

Jharkhand: Several firecracker shops gutted in blaze, none injured

Bokaro (Jharkhand): Several shops selling firecrackers were gutted in a blaze in Jharkhand's Bokaro district on Thursday evening, police said. However, no casualty has been reported so far, a police officer said. The incident took place near Garga Bridge in the Bokaro Steel City police station area. Bokaro City DSP Alok Ranjan said around 13-14 makeshift shops selling firecrackers have been gutted. He said that the district administration had permitted these shopkeepers to set up firecracker shops temporarily. Ranjan said that the fire has been doused and an investigation is underway to ascertain the reason behind it. The shopkeepers claimed that they faced a huge loss due to the incident. They demanded compensation from the administration against their losses. Bokaro's BJP MLA Biranchi Narayan reached the spot after the incident and said that had the district administration and fire brigade been active, such an incident would not have happened.

Congress Releases Final List For Jharkhand Assembly Polls

The Congress has released its final list of candidates for the Jharkhand Assembly elections, naming Shweta Singh from Bokaro and Ajay Dubey from Dhanbad.

Jharkhand Assembly elections: Congress names Bokaro, Dhanbad candidates

Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren said that mothers and sisters in Jharkhand are getting the benefit of the Maiya Samman Yojana, and farmers loans have been waived and 200 units of free electricity have been provided.