Hazaribag: The daylong bandh called by opposition BJP in Hazaribag on Monday to protest the rape and brutal murder of a 12-year-old girl last week, witnessed near-complete shutdown. The saffron camp also staged protests across all district headquarters to criticise poor law and order situation in the state.Amba Prasad, national secretary of the Congress, part of the ruling alliance govt in the state, also led a separate protest in Hazaribag, demanding CBI probe into the incident.The victim’s body was recovered on March 25, a day after she went missing from Mangala Julus, part of Ramnavami celebrations. Police are still to crack the case.Since morning, markets across Hazaribag, including key areas such as Jhanda Chowk, Main Road, Pagoda Chowk, Matwari, Vuru Gobind Singh Road and Nawabganj, remained closed as traders voluntarily downed the shutters. Streets wore a deserted look, especially in Vishnugarh and adjoining areas.Hazaribag MP Manish Jaiswal, who joined party leaders and workers on the streets, appealed to residents to support the bandh and demand justice. “The incident has shaken humanity. We must stand united to ensure strict action against those responsible,” he said.Barhi MLA Manoj Yadav and BJP district president Vivekanand Singh were also seen leading protest marches across the city, urging shopkeepers to support the shutdown. Protesters raised slogans demanding immediate arrests and stringent punishment for the accused.The bandh saw significant participation in several blocks, including Barkagaon, Keredari, Dadi, Churchu, Barhi, Chouparan, Barkattha and Ichak, where normal life was partially disrupted.Demonstrations intensified during the day, with protesters briefly blocking the Vishnugarh–Hazaribag road near 7 Mile More, affecting traffic movement. Placard-carrying demonstrators accused the administration of inaction and warned of continued agitation until arrests were made.Local traders said the shutdown was voluntary and reflected public anger. “This is a collective demand for justice, not a political move,” said a shopkeeper in Vishnugarh. BJP leaders asserted that protests would continue until the perpetrators were arrested and given exemplary punishment.Amba led the protest at District Chowk terming it a “failure of policing”. Wearing black badges, workers held a candle march and burnt effigies of the DC and SP, demanding swift arrests.Prasad, who referred to the victim as “Sita”, seeking a CBI probe, compensation and rehabilitation for the family, and reconstitution of the state women’s commission. She also wrote to CM Hemant Soren, urging personal intervention and action against erring officials.BJP has further announced mashal julus across the state on April 2 and Jharkhand bandh on April 3 if the culprits aren’t caught by then.State Congress hit out at BJP for petty politics over the issue as the police is actively probing the case. Addressing media at party office, senior party leader Rama Khalko claimed that as many as 44 BJP MLAs and MPs in the country are facing allegations of rape and sexual harassment yet the party continues to provide political protection to the accused.“The party must introspect rather than doing petty politics,” she said. “In Prime Minister’s parliamentary constituency Varanasi, as many as 1,686 cases against women have been registered there in the last one year. A rape incident is occurring every 15 days, which is proof of the failure of BJP’s double engine govt,” she alleged.Meanwhile, Jharkhand finance minister Radha Krishna Kishore on Monday visited the victim’s family in Hazaribag and assured that the case will be cracked soon. He also discussed the issue with DC and SP and asked people to wait for two days for the arrest of the culprits who will be booked under POSCO case.He also announced initial compensation of Rs 1 lakh to the family.“The family is very poor and I have directed the administration to re-habilitate them in all possible ways by linking with various govt schemes,” he said, adding that BJP’s bandh was more of political stunt.
