JMM calls CRPF presence during Soren’s ED questioning illegal, seeks action

The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, one of the ruling coalition parties in the state, on Sunday alleged that CRPF personnel tried to enter CM Hemant Soren’s residence, while he was being questioned by the ED on Saturday, “without any permission or information” from the district administration or the police.

The party demanded “strict legal action” against the CRPF, alleging that the Central force had come with an ulterior motive to fuel tension.

A press release signed by General Secretaries Supriyo Bhattacharya and Vinod Pandey stated: “A protest was also being held by the public and party workers against the biased action of the investigating agencies of the Central Government, in view of which prohibitory orders were imposed under Section 144 by the district administration. Meanwhile, suddenly CRPF personnel (on bus) tried to enter the CM’s residence without any permission or information. They also started quarreling with JMM workers.”

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The letter said the entry of CRPF personnel into the prohibited area is a provocative and illegal act.

“If JMM workers had not shown restraint, a violent situation could have arisen… This act was a premeditated conspiracy… (and) should (there) be a fight between them and the protesters, the state government can be accused of failure of the constitutional system and the role of imposing President’s rule can be prepared… This is at the behest of the Central Government, which is an attempt to destabilise the state government and is a cowardly attack on the federal structure,” the release alleged.

A CRPF official, on the condition of anonymity, told The Indian Express: “We were there at the behest of the ED and they had given it to us in writing. There is nothing more to it.”

State BJP spokesman Pratul Shahdeo attacked the government for “not following law and order”. “Despite the fact that there were prohibitory orders under CrPC Section 144, JMM protesters had gathered with bows and arrows. Does the CM want to scare the judicial system and central agencies? The current government is trying to create an environment of fear. The CM himself does not believe in law and order as he called ED to his home when he was asked to come to the ED office,” Shahdeo said.

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