Eggs, tomatoes, stones hurled during protests; FIRs lodged
Roshan Kumar
Ranchi
Tensions escalated in Ranchi as Congress workers staged a high-voltage protest outside the BJP state headquarters over the alleged NEET paper leak, resulting in violent clashes. The demonstration came a day after BJP workers had laid siege to the Congress office.
Workers from both sides raised slogans and allegedly hurled stones, tomatoes, eggs and water bottles at each other during the confrontation. A journalist was injured in the ensuing chaos.
Assembling at Harmu Ground, Congress supporters marched toward the BJP headquarters demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Protesters breached an initial police barricade before being halted at a final security line. Despite heavy deployment of police and Rapid Response Teams, supporters from both sides crossed security perimeters and engaged in a direct face-off for nearly 45 minutes.
Congress workers broke through an initial police barricade and marched towards the BJP office, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. However, they were stopped at the final barricade erected by the police.
BJP workers raised slogans such as “Rahul Chor Hai” (Rahul Gandhi is a thief) and “Jharkhand Sarkar Yuvaon ko Nyay De” (Jharkhand government must give justice to the youth). Congress supporters countered with slogans including “Chanda Chor Gaddi Chhodo” (Donation thieves, step down) and “Dharmendra Pradhan Istifa Do” (Dharmendra Pradhan, resign).
Ahead of the Congress protest, the BJP state office and its surrounding areas were placed under heavy security, with a large deployment of police personnel, Rapid Response Teams and other security forces to prevent any untoward incident.
Later, Ranchi Mahanagar Congress president Kumar Raja lodged an FIR at Argora Police Station, alleging that BJP workers attempted to provoke violence. He also submitted a pen drive containing purported video footage that he claimed showed BJP workers stockpiling stones inside the party office to attack Congress protesters.
The BJP also lodged an FIR at Argora police station against several Congress leaders and hundreds of party workers, alleging violence, vandalism and assault during the Congress’ protest outside the BJP state headquarters in Ranchi.
