Ranchi/Hazaribag: Police have registered four cases against JPSC-JSSC Reform Manch members and other protesters following clashes during attempts to burn chief minister Hemant Soren’s effigy in Ranchi and Hazaribag on Friday. The FIRs name several protesters and include more than 950 unidentified people.Three cases were lodged at Ranchi’s Kotwali police station over the alleged violation of administrative orders, violence and assault during the protest.Police said the protesters were marching towards Albert Ekka Chowk to burn Hemant’s effigy when a group of unidentified people allegedly snatched it from them. This triggered confrontations between students and police at several places.One FIR was registered on the complaint of Shiv Shankar Pandey, the magistrate deployed to maintain law and order during the agitation. Fourteen people, including Manch leaders Kunal and Piyush, and 250 unidentified protesters were booked for allegedly violating administrative orders. Police said video footage was being examined to identify those involved in the violence.In the second FIR, Ankita Verma alleged that Manch members surrounded her while she was shopping near Albert Ekka Chowk, levelled allegations against her and then verbally and physically assaulted her. Another person, Sahbaaz, who was injured during the confrontation, lodged a separate FIR against the protesters.Police on Saturday also took protester Amisha Prasad into custody in connection with another case and kept her at Mahila police station through the day. Leader of opposition Babulal Marandi and Ranchi mayor Rama Khalkho visited the police station and sought an explanation for her detention. Sources said Amisha fell ill and vomited while in custody.Marandi accused police of trying to intimidate students protesting against the state govt. “It is high-handedness by Jharkhand police. Govt is trying to torture students who oppose it. Such action will only make their voices stronger,” he said.In Hazaribag, police intensified action following Friday’s clash at Gandhi Maidan under Korra police station limits, where students had assembled to burn the CM’s effigy.A case was registered against several named people and around 700 unidentified students for allegedly pelting stones at police personnel during the protest. Police said they resorted to a lath-charge to disperse the crowd and bring the situation under control.Korra police station officer in-charge Nemdhari Rajak said photographs, videos and drone footage were being examined. “Several people had already been identified, while artificial intelligence tools were being used to identify others allegedly involved in the violence,” he added.
