JMM, Tribal Groups Clash Over Statue Installation Ahead of Death Anniversary
Key Points:
- Tension flares at Chaibasa Tata bypass over statue plan
- Police detain social activists protesting statue installation
- Tribal groups demand statues of movement martyrs first
CHAIBASA – A dispute over the installation of a statue of late Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader Shibu Soren in Chaibasa deepened on Saturday, ahead of his first death anniversary on August 4.
The standoff between JMM and several local social and tribal organizations came out in the open after both sides confronted each other at the Chaibasa Tata Bypass Chowk, the proposed site for the statue, leading to a tense situation in the area.
JMM has been preparing to install a statue of Soren, referred to as ‘Dishum Guru,’ on the bypass road as a tribute, citing his historic contribution to the Jharkhand movement.
However, several social and tribal organizations opposed the move, saying Chaibasa is the land of the Jharkhand movement, where numerous activists made the ultimate sacrifice in the fight for a separate state.
They argued that statues of those martyred activists, who nourished the movement with their blood, should be installed first. They said installing a statue of a single leader alone would be an injustice to the sacrifices of those movement activists.
The atmosphere at the statue site grew increasingly tense on Saturday as social activists protesting the move and JMM supporters faced off against each other.
Anticipating a possible escalation, police intervened immediately. Officers detained several protesting social activists from the spot, put them in a bus and took them to the Chaibasa police station, following which tension in the area increased further.
A large police force was subsequently deployed, and the administration has kept a close watch on the situation.
Officials said the situation is currently under control, though both sides remain firm on their respective positions, and the possibility of the dispute over the statue installation escalating further cannot be ruled out.
