The BJP in Jharkhand has rescheduled its bandh to April 9, citing Good Friday and the JEE exam, amid protests over the state's law and order situation and demands for justice in a heinous crime.
Key Points
- The BJP in Jharkhand has postponed its bandh to April 9 due to Good Friday and the JEE (Main) examination.
- The bandh was originally scheduled to protest the alleged deterioration of law and order in Jharkhand and demand justice for a rape and murder victim.
- The BJP alleges a significant increase in rape, kidnapping, theft, and murder cases in Jharkhand between 2020 and January 2026.
- The Jharkhand High Court has taken suo motu cognisance of the Hazaribag rape and murder case, issuing notices to the state administration and police.
- The BJP delegation raised concerns about stone-pelting incidents during a Ram Navami procession and demanded the release of those arrested.
The BJP on Wednesday postponed its Jharkhand bandh to April 9 in view of Good Friday and the JEE (Main) examination, according to a statement.
The torchlight processions planned to mobilise support for the shutdown have also been rescheduled from April 2 to April 3.
Earlier in the day, BJP spokesperson Pratul Shahdeo had announced the April 3 bandh to protest the alleged deterioration in the law and order situation in the state and to demand justice for a 12-year-old girl who was allegedly raped and murdered in Hazaribag district.
Addressing reporters at the party headquarters in Ranchi, Shahdeo had claimed that the law and order machinery in the state had "completely collapsed".
He alleged that 10,113 rape cases, 11,003 kidnapping cases, over 60,000 theft cases and 9,213 murder cases were registered between 2020 and January 2026.
He also alleged that the police stepped up their investigation into the Hazaribag case only after state BJP president Aditya Sahu intervened.
"We have been demanding that the culprits be identified and punished. The bandh will be historic," Shahdeo had said.
The Jharkhand High Court has taken suo motu cognisance of the incident and issued notices to the state administration and the Director General of Police.
According to the FIR, the girl had accompanied her mother to watch a 'Mangla' procession, part of Ram Navami celebrations, on the night of March 24. She was allegedly abducted, and her body was recovered from a field the following day.
Police have constituted a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the case.
Concerns Over Law and Order
Separately, a five-member BJP delegation met DGP Tadasha Mishra during the day and raised concerns over the law and order situation.
State BJP vice-president Rakesh Prasad said the delegation also raised the alleged stone-pelting incidents during a Ram Navami procession in Khunti district on March 28.
Alleging "appeasement politics", Prasad demanded the release of 77 persons, whom he described as innocent, arrested in connection with the case.
Hatia MLA Naveen Jaiswal said the delegation also sought the immediate arrest of those responsible for the Hazaribag crime.
