Bandh in Kolhan, Jharkand, India

It was reported that the Communist Party of India (Maoist) had successfully implemented a one-day bandh across Kolhan division in Jharkhand on July 10th with repurcussions also in the neighbouring Chhattisgarh. The bandh was called to protest against police brutality in the Kolhan-Saranda region.

As part of their protest action, fish plates were uprooted from the Howrah-Mumbai main railway line, forcing all train movements to halt.

Banners were erected across the railway tracks on the third line of the Manoharpur-Jaraikela section. The banners called for supporting the bandh and condemned police massacre in the Kolhan-Saranda area. Train services were disrupted for approximately five hours.

The bandh’s impact extended beyond the railways. In Manoharpur and Anandpur, normal life was paralysed as government and non-government establishments remained closed. The streets were mainly boycotted, with both long-distance and local vehicular traffic brought to a complete halt. Only essential services such as ambulances, milk supply vehicles and those related to hospital emergencies worked.

In Chaibasa, the district headquarters of West Singhbhum, long-distance bus services were suspended.