Opposition-sponsored Jharkhand bandh evokes mixed response

RANCHI: A dawn-to-dusk Jharkhand bandh called by the JMM and supported by other opposition parties to protest amendments in the Land Acquisition Act evoked mixed response in the state today.nnThe bandh has been called by the principal opposition Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and supported by the Congress, the RJD and the JVM (Prajatantrik) of former chief minister Babulal Marandi.nnThere is no report of any untoward incident in the state during the bandh, Additional Director General of Police R K Malik told PTI.nnAsked how many bandh supporters have been arrested, he said the figures were yet to come innnThe bandh has been called against amendments in the 2013 Land Acquisition Act, through a bill passed in the Jharkhand Assembly in August, 2017. The bill had done away with the impact assessment clause to allow government-sponsored developmental projects.nnThe coming together of all opposition parties for the bandh could be seen as signs of unity among non-BJP parties ahead of Lok Sabha polls.nnDumka Sub Divisional Officer (SDO) Rakesh Kumar said 800 bandh supporters have been taken into custody.nnThe bandh had partial impact in Lohardaga with long distance buses and trucks remaining off the road, according to police sources.nnGarwah district also saw a mixed response with 240 bandh supporters being taken into custody, according to police sources.nnTight security arrangements have been made across Jharkhand in view of the bandh.nnSource: Press Trust of India