Two injured, 200 arrested in Jharkhand shutdown over domicile policy

Ranchi, May 14 (IANS) Two people were injured as protesters hurled petrol bombs on a truck during a protest called on Saturday by the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) against the domicile policy of the Raghubar Das government. More than 200 party supporters have been arrested.

The shutdown has hit life across the state with shops closed in Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Gumla and other parts of the state. 

Long-distance buses are not plying. 

The JMM supporters and workers burnt tyres in Ranchi, Jamshedpur and other places.

On the Ranchi-Jamshedpur national highway, shutdown supporters threw petrol bombs on a truck in which two people were injured. Protesters also hurled stones on a staff bus in Jamshedpur. 

Shutdown supporters tried to disrupt railway services at a few places. 

As a precautionary measure, two JMM legislators have been detained. 

More than 200 shutdown supporters have been arrested across the state. Heavy security arrangements have been put in place in view of the shutdown. 

The police are using drones in Ranchi to keep track of the shutdown. 

The Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) have extended support to the JMM shutdown. The Jharkhand Vikas Morcha-Prajantantrik (JVM-P) of Babulal Marandi is also supporting the shutdown. 

The Domicile Policy was brought and notified after the governor's consent in April. 

According to the notified policy, announced by Chief Minister Das in April, anyone living in the state for 30 years and possessing immovable assets will be considered a resident of Jharkhand.

Former chief ministers who have opposed the policy include Arjun Munda of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Hemant Soren of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Babulal Marandi of Jharkhand Vikas Morcha-Prajatantrik (JVM-P), Madhu Koda.