Farmers in Shibu Soren masks protest RIMS-2 land acquisition; police use tear gas
THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK Ranchi, August 24: A tense atmosphere prevailed at the proposed RIMS-2 (Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, second campus)…
THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Ranchi, August 24: A tense atmosphere prevailed at the proposed RIMS-2 (Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, second campus) site in Nagdi, Kanke, as agitating farmers, many wearing masks of Dishom Guru Shibu Soren, entered the land despite prohibitory measures and deployed police personnel.
On Sunday, amid strict surveillance and surrounded by barricades, farmers—alongside tribal men and women—accessed the RIMS-2 site via footpaths. Police responded by firing tear gas shells to disperse the protesters, though the crowd remained undeterred. Despite initial resistance, no further force was used. The farmers ploughed the fields and planted saplings in a symbolic act of resistance.
Champa Kujur of the Sarna Prarthana Sabha, under whose leadership the “Khet Joto Abhiyan” (Plough the Fields Campaign) was organised, alleged police atrocities, decrying the land acquisition as oppressive towards Adivasi communities.
Hundreds of villagers from regions including Latehar, Lohardaga, Bijupada, Hatma, and Bedon joined the movement, calling for the protection of arable land.
Background: The RIMS-2 Land Row
The controversy centres on the state government’s proposal to develop a second medical college campus for RIMS in Kanke—on agricultural land claimed by tribal farmers. Officials say the land belongs to the state and the project is essential for enhancing healthcare infrastructure in Ranchi and beyond
BJP leader and former Chief Minister Champai Soren has been vociferous in opposing the site. He argues that while he supports the hospital project in principle, it should be relocated—preferably near the Smart City area—to prevent loss of fertile land. Soren has accused the government of bypassing both the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, and the Chotanagpur Tenancy (CNT) Act without proper notification to landowners.
On August 10, Soren announced that tribals and supporters would plough the fields on August 24 in protest, asserting that the project should be moved and criticising the state government’s alleged disregard for tribal land rights and cultural icons.
Champai Soren’s Detention and Political Fallout
In anticipation of these protests, Ranchi police placed Champai Soren under house arrest on Sunday morning to prevent public disorder. Authorities formally cited law and order concerns for the precautionary detention.
Soren called the move undemocratic, emphasising that his objection was not to RIMS-2 per se but to its placement on tribal land. He reiterated his demand that the project be shifted to state or low-yield government land elsewhere.
The BJP has denounced the arrest as authoritarian overreach, labelling it “outright dictatorship” by the state administration.
In response, state Congress spokesperson Rakesh Sinha defended the action, arguing that administrative steps were warranted to preempt any disruptive activities. He accused the BJP of fomenting unrest under the guise of protesting development.
Legal and Political Impasse
Additionally, the sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) of Sadar imposed prohibitory orders within a 200-metre radius of the RIMS-2 site under Section 163 of the BNSS. These restrictions banned gatherings, loudspeakers, public meetings, and even traditional weapons ahead of the protest.
The clash at Nagdi reflects broader tensions in Jharkhand between development ambitions and tribal rights. Land acquisition and protection of Adivasi land under the CNT Act remain sensitive and politically charged issues in the state.
