Ban orders clamped, CM visits strife zones to appeal for calm
VIJAY DEO JHA
Ranchi, Sept. 26: Capital Ranchi was shut down for most part of the day today after sporadic clashes over an alleged attempt to defile a temple last night spread to other parts of the city, prompting the district administration to clamp prohibitory orders after deploying a large posse of security men and chief minister Raghubar Das to hit the road to appeal for calm.
Armed with lathis and other weapons, protesters burnt tyres and squatted on roads from early morning today at several places, including Hinoo, the epicentre of last night’s temple trouble, and the adjoining locality of Doranda.
Clashes, road blockades and demonstrations also spread to major thoroughfares of the city, including Shradhanand Chowk where Ranchi University is located, Shahid Chowk, Albert Ekka Chowk, Sarjana Chowk, Daily Market, Sujata Chowk, Birsa Chowk and Harmu, scaring away morning walkers and disrupting traffic.
Schools also decided to give over early and sent word to parents to pick up their children.