Jharkhand: 150 people detained in tribal organisation’s protest against burning of religious flag

Around 150 people were detained for blocking roads during a day-long shutdown called by tribal bodies in Jharkhand’s Ranchi on Saturday to protest the alleged burning of the Sarna flag (tribal religious flag) by unidentified men on March 25.

Protesters also set vehicle tyres ablaze. “Protesters had blocked roads in a few parts of the state. An adequate police force has been deployed to control the situation. No untoward incident has been reported. Around 150 protestors have been detained” said Rajeshwar Nath Alok, ADM (Law and Order), Ranchi.

The tribal bodies under the banner of Kendriya Sarna Samiti and other outfits are demanding the arrest of those responsible.

Protesters blocked the roads in various parts of the state capital and set vehicle tyres ablaze on the roads. After assurances from the district administration and police, the protestors cleared the roads.

Ranchi SP Sudhanshu Jain said that the situation is under control and the roads have been cleared.

On March 25, a day after the Sarhul festival, the Sarna flag was allegedly found torn and burnt in the Lalpur area, triggering massive outrage among the tribals.
According to tribal bodies, they had registered a first information report at Lalpur police station. The alleged incident of flag burning occurred in the lower Karam Toli area of Ranchi. “But police is yet to take any action,” Tribal bodies said.