Ex-J'khand CM Champai Soren under house arrest in view of tribals' protest over land acquisition
Ranchi, Aug 24 (PTI): Former Jharkhand chief minister and BJP leader Champai Soren was placed under house arrest on Sunday to prevent law and order issues in view of a protest by tribal outfits against land acquisition for a multi-crore state-run health institute, police said.
The protesters alleged that police lathi-charged and fired tear gas shells to disperse them from the site of the proposed project in Nagri area of Ranchi. However, police could not be reached for a comment to verify the claim.
Champai Soren's son Babulal, along with supporters who were on their way to Ranchi, have also been detained at a police station, police said.
"Champai Soren is under house arrest as a preventive measure to maintain law and order in view of the tribal outfits' protests," Ranchi City Deputy Superintendent of Police K V Raman told PTI.
A large number of police personnel have also been deployed and barricades put up at strategic points in the wake of the protest, he said.
Soren, however, termed the move undemocratic and said his house arrest was ordered for supporting the tribals and their protest.
Security has also been beefed up at the residence of Soren, who has announced that he will join the protest.
Over 20 tribal groups, farmers and land owners have called for a 'Hal Joto, Ropa Ropo' (plough field, plant saplings) protest on Sunday at the site where the Rs 1,074-crore RIMS-2 hospital project has been proposed.
RIMS-2 refers to the expansion of the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), a premier health facility in the state.
Despite barricades put up along roads leading to Nagri area, protesters, farmers and land owners from different villages gathered at the proposed site with posters in their hands displaying pictures of former chief minister Shibu Soren and his message 'Harwa toh joto na yaar... kaise bachega?' (plough the field... else how will you survive?).
Many protesters were seen wearing the mask of Shibu Soren, who is popularly known as 'Dishom Guru' (leader of the land).
Protesters alleged that the police lathi-charged and fired tear gas at them to disperse them from the protest spot.
The agitators claimed that by defying resistance from the police, they planted saplings on the land, where the hospital project is proposed to be set up.
Police, however, could not be reached for a comment regarding the claim.
The barricades put up by the administration caused trouble for the commuters. A local of the area, 50-year-old Basant Kumar Mahato, said he was stopped near Chandni Chowk in Kanke.
"I reside at Ring Road, but I am not allowed to go to my home," he claimed.
The Ranchi district administration has also clamped prohibitory orders banning public gatherings in Nagri area.
The orders ban public meetings and gatherings of five or more people within the specified perimeter.
Carrying arms and ammunition, explosives and other weapons is prohibited and using loudspeakers is also barred in the area, an official release said.
The health department has allotted 207 acres of land for the project.
Jharkhand Health Minister Irfan Ansari had last month claimed that the RIMS-2 will feature a 2,600-bed hospital, and have 100 undergraduate and 50 postgraduate seats.
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India Post launches first ‘Gen Z’ post office in Bengaluru
Bengaluru: India Post has launched its first Gen Z Post Office in Bengaluru at the Acharya Institute of Technology, aiming to attract college students in an age dominated by emails, WhatsApp and social media.
According to a report published by The New Indian Express, Harsha MR, Assistant Superintendent, Bengaluru West Division Post Office, said the new post office, officially named Gen Z Post Office, Achit Nagar, Bengaluru (PIN 560107), will be inaugurated on Wednesday. It has been creatively designed and painted with graffiti by students of the institute to make it more appealing to young people.
He said “In the Gen Z post office, we have introduced two categories in one category, students can come and work with our staff and get good experience, know more about the schemes and services available under India Post”. “In another category, they can work with us part time and they will be provided with incentives but it is still in the pipeline and yet to be implemented.”
Harsha said the initiative is meant to bring postal services closer to students, researchers and the campus community. Similar Gen Z post offices are also planned at GITAM University and the National Law School of India University.
According to the report, they can also use the services to communicate with students across the campuses also. Unlike other post offices, it is a blend of physical and digital world giving students WIFI services, air-conditioned rooms and even coffee vending machines which Gen Z prefer to use.
Harsha said student representatives who will be in-charge of the campus work at post offices within the campus are yet to be decided.
“A roster will be prepared and different students will be given tasks to serve at various service counters. A senior post master will be in charge of Gen Z post offices and he will guide the students,” TNIE quoted Harsha as saying.
India Post officials allegedly said similar Gen Z post offices will soon be launched in Bengaluru North, South and East divisions as part of a broader effort to connect with younger generations.
