Jharkhand shutdown evokes mixed response, traffic hit by road blockades in several districts
Digital Desk | Ranchi, Sep 30 (IANS) A statewide shutdown called on Wednesday by activists of the separate Jharkhand movement for pensions for agitators, jobs for dependents, among several other demands, evoked a mixed response across the state. Protesters blocked roads and disrupted traffic in districts such as Palamu, Giridih, and Bokaro, while normal life remained largely unaffected in several urban centres, including the state capital Ranchi. The bandh had a relatively stronger impact in Medininagar of Palamu , where agitators carrying bows, arrows and other traditional weapons took to the streets and blocked the busy Redma Chowk. Several protesters sat on the road as a mark of protest, causing long queues of vehicles on both sides. The blockade inconvenienced school children, commuters, and long-distance travellers. In Giridih, activists blocked the Giridih-Dumri main road near the old toll plaza at Paparwatand and raised slogans while sitting on the roadway. The blockade was later lifted following talks with the police. In Bokaro, protesters staged a road blockade at the ITI Mor area in Chas, disrupting the movement of local as well as goods-carrying vehicles for some time. The impact of the shutdown was hardly visible in Ranchi. Protesters briefly disrupted traffic near Albert Ekka Chowk in the morning, but the situation returned to normal after police and administrative officials intervened. The agitators later staged a sit-in at the nearby CPI office premises. Most markets in Ranchi remained open, while buses and autorickshaws continued to operate normally. Reports from Chatra and Garhwa indicated disruptions in the movement of buses and heavy commercial vehicles. In some parts of Ramgarh and Dhanbad, protesters appealed to traders to support the bandh, while local transportation was affected at some locations. The most impacted by the bandh were the long-distance bus services. Some services operating from Jamshedpur, Ranchi, Dhanbad and Hazaribagh to Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha, and various districts within Jharkhand were affected. They remained off roads largely as a precautionary measure. However, train services on major railway routes remained normal. Autorickshaws and e-rickshaws continued to operate in most towns and cities, although traffic congestion at key highway intersections caused temporary disruptions. Leaders of the agitation, including Pushkar Mahto and former MP Bhuvneshwar Prasad Mehta, said that several demands of Jharkhand movement activists remain unresolved even 26 years after the formation of the state. They warned that if the government fails to take a decision on their demands soon, an indefinite hunger strike would be launched across the state from November 15, the Jharkhand Foundation Day.
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Digital Desk | Ranchi, Sep 18 (IANS) The Jharkhand High Court on Friday extended its stay on the state government's decision to cancel appointments made through the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) examination and the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) Combined Graduate Level (CGL) recruitment process. The court also appointed a retired High Court judge to oversee the investigation into the alleged irregularities in the recruitment exercises. A bench of Justice Deepak Roshan heard a batch of petitions challenging the government's decision to annul appointments made through various recruitment examinations, including the JPSC CDPO and JSSC-CGL exams. During the hearing, the court orally observed that while the material available so far suggests that not all appointments were made in a fair manner, it is equally true that not every appointment was tainted. The court expressed concern over the lengthy recruitment process followed by the JPSC, noting that it often takes two to three years to conduct examinations and complete appointments. In such circumstances, the bench observed, a blanket cancellation of appointments could adversely affect many officials against whom no individual wrongdoing has been established. To ensure impartial scrutiny of the allegations, the court appointed retired High Court judge Gautam Kumar Choudhary to monitor the investigation, while retired IPS officer R.K. Malik was designated as the nodal officer for the probe. During the proceedings, both the Jharkhand government and the JPSC submitted their responses before the court. In its affidavit, the state government defended its decision to cancel the JSSC-CGL examination, arguing that the entire recruitment process had been vitiated by alleged irregularities. According to the government, distinguishing between genuinely successful candidates and those who may have unfairly benefited had become difficult. The government cited Supreme Court guidelines that permit cancellation of an entire examination when the recruitment process is found to be irreparably compromised, and it becomes impossible to separate valid selections from tainted ones. On this basis, it justified its decision to scrap the CGL examination. The affidavit further stated that confidential examination-related work, including question paper printing and distribution to examination centres, had been entrusted to ICN Technology. According to the government, 28 individuals, including the company's CEO Somansh Prakash, have been arrested in connection with the alleged exam scam, while notices have been issued to 265 people. The government also claimed that the investigation had uncovered evidence suggesting that candidates were allegedly coached with answers at locations in Nepal, Asansol, Kolkata, Bihar, Jharia and Bokaro. Of the 28 candidates taken to Nepal, 10 were successful in the CGL examination, the affidavit stated. The investigation is still underway. Senior advocates Rajeev Ranjan, Indrajeet Sinha, Amritansh Vats, Kumar Harsh, Sonal Tiwari and Subhash Rasik Soren, among others, appeared for the petitioners. The state government was represented by senior advocate Meenakshi Arora and Advocate General Rohitashwa Roy, while the JPSC was represented by advocates Sanjay Piperwal and Prince Kumar.
Retired DVC employee, wife shot dead in Bokaro; son critically injured
Tragic Shooting in Bokaro Claims Lives of Couple, Son Seriously Injured
A couple was shot dead and their son seriously injured in a shocking incident in Bokaro, Jharkhand. Police are investigating the case. Tragic Shooting in Bokaro Claims Lives of Couple, Son Seriously Injured
2 bike-borne criminals snatch gold chain from woman in Bokaro
Howrah hotel raid: CBI arrests 2 public servants, 2 aides in Rs 4 lakh bribe case
Digital Desk | Howrah, Sep 15 (IANS) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday arrested four accused, including two public servants from Lucknow-based institution, in a case involving the payment of a bribe of Rs 4 lakh in a hotel in West Bengal's Howrah, an official said. Those arrested include Ashutosh Kumar, Lucknow Research Designs and Standards Organization (RDSO) Deputy Director, and Deepak Kumar, RDSO Senior Section Engineer, an official statement said. The other two accused were identified as representatives of Kolkata-based private company Utkarsh India Limited, it said. The CBI identified the two arrested private persons as Sashank Agarwal and Swarup Kumar Rai. The CBI registered the case immediately on Tuesday against the accused on allegations that the public servants, in conspiracy with the representatives of Utkarsh India Limited, had obtained undue advantage from a Kolkata-based private company in lieu of issuance of a favourable plant and machinery inspection report. The Central probe agency laid a trap and caught the accused public servants and private persons from a hotel in Howrah while accepting Rs 4 lakh as illegal gratification from the representatives of the private company. Apart from the bribe of Rs 4 lakh, the CBI also recovered Rs 4.73 lakh in cash, the statement said. Later, searches in the residential and office premises of the accused were conducted at multiple locations in Kolkata, Lucknow and Bihar, the CBI said, adding that incriminating documents and digital evidence were recovered and seized. The CBI said the accused will be produced before a special court for custody. In a separate case, the CBI arrested Chandra Shekhar Gupta, the Bhojudih Chief Health Inspector under South Eastern Railway's Adra Division of Bokaro in a Rs 25,000 bribery case. Chandra Shekhar Gupta was arrested after the CBI received a complaint against him. It was alleged that the accused Chief Health Inspector demanded undue advantage of Rs 25,000 from the complainant for sanction of medical leave, the CBI said in a statement. The CBI laid a trap and caught Gupta red handed while accepting undue advantage of Rs 10,000 from the complainant. Searches were conducted at the office and residential premises of the accused public servant. Gupta will be produced before a Special CBI Court in Dhanbad, the statement said.
Body of 20-Year-Old Found in Cooling Pond in Bokaro, Suspected Suicide
A 20-year-old man was discovered dead in a cooling pond in Bokaro, raising concerns of suicide as investigations continue. Body of 20-Year-Old Found in Cooling Pond in Bokaro, Suspected Suicide
CBI Launches Investigation into Missing Minor Case in Bokaro After High Court Order
The CBI has initiated an investigation into a six-year-old case of a missing 14-year-old girl in Bokaro following a directive from the High Court. CBI Launches Investigation into Missing Minor Case in Bokaro After High Court Order
Bokaro Steel Plant Prepares for New Recruitment as 29 Employees Retire This Month
Demand notice of 1,755 crore on Tata Steel stayed
The demand was made for alleged excess extraction of 1.62 crore tonnes of mineral coal from the West Bokaro Colliery beyond permissible limits from FY01 to FY07
Tata Steel gets interim relief in 1,755-crore Jharkhand coal mining demand case
The case relates to alleged excess extraction of coal from Tata Steel's West Bokaro Colliery in Jharkhand during FY2000-01 to FY2006-07
BMW Industries Q1 Profit Rises 26% On Revenue Growth; Ebitda Up 22%
Kolkata-based steel processor reports 15% growth in Q1 income, while EBITDA margin expands 147 basis points to 25.1%; Bokaro expansion remains on track for revenue generation in Q2 FY27.
Net Profit Jumps 26% to 19.04 Crore Alongside Massive 800 Crore Bokaro Expansion
Major Raids in Jharkhand PSC Recruitment Scandal: CID Investigates Over 20 Locations
Ranchi, August 3: The state CID has initiated significant action in the investigation of irregularities surrounding the 14th Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) preliminary examination. Starting Monday morning, various teams conducted simultaneous raids at over 20 locations across multiple districts, including Ranchi, Dhanbad, Bokaro, Deoghar, Godda, Ramgarh, Hazaribagh, and Palamu. These raids targeted several coaching ... Read more Major Raids in Jharkhand PSC Recruitment Scandal: CID Investigates Over 20 Locations
Young Man Murdered in Bokaro, Body Disposed of in Well; One Arrested
Bokaro, July 21: In a shocking incident in Bokaro district, Jharkhand, police have arrested a suspect in the murder of a 19-year-old man. The victims body was discovered in a well located in a forest area, following the suspects confession. Authorities seized the motorcycle and a stick believed to have been used in the crime. ... Read more Young Man Murdered in Bokaro, Body Disposed of in Well; One Arrested
Jharkhand CID arrests prime accused in Bokaro forest land scam from Patna
He has been arrested in Patna. The CID is further investigating the case and will bring the accused to Jharkhand on transit remand, CID said in a statement
Jharkhand High Court Involves CBI in Missing Minor Case, Directs Coordination with CID
Ranchi, July 2: The Jharkhand High Court has directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to become a party in the case of a minor girl who has been missing from Bokaro district for six years. During a hearing on Thursday, the court instructed both the CBI and the states Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to ... Read more Jharkhand High Court Involves CBI in Missing Minor Case, Directs Coordination with CID
A Bokaro peon, Ranjeet Kumar Himanshu, has won his job back after being sacked for taking tea leaves and biscuits. The Jharkhand High Court ruled his dismissal unjust, citing a vague show-cause notice and disproportionate punishment for a 17-year employee. Himanshu will be reinstated with half back pay, ending four years of financial hardship for his family.
DNA Match in Missing Bokaro Girl Case Raises Questions in High Court
Ranchi, June 25: Significant developments emerged during a hearing in the Jharkhand High Court regarding the case of 18-year-old Pushpa Kumari, who went missing from Bokaro district nearly 11 months ago. The court was informed that the DNA samples obtained from skeletal remains matched Pushpas DNA profile, according to a report from the Central Forensic ... Read more DNA Match in Missing Bokaro Girl Case Raises Questions in High Court
Mob assaults Kerala man in Odishas Sambalpur on suspicion of child-lifting
Police rescue Alappuzha resident from mob and accommodate him on a train to Bokaro; list of growing mob-violence in Odisha is a grim reminder of people breaking the law, without fear of consequences.
Three mutilated bodies found on railway track in Jharkhand's Bokaro; probe under way
A police officer said a motorcycle and liquor bottles were also found at the spot
Pregnant Dalit woman dies after scuffle during coal collection in Jharkhand
Bokaro: A 25-year-old pregnant Dalit woman died after attempting to intervene in a dispute over the collection of leftover coal in Jharkhands Bokaro district. The incident occurred along a railway siding at the Dhaura coal site on Friday night, May 29. The deceased Anita Devi was part of a group of women collecting leftover coal, 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 .
