Ex-Jharkhand CM Champai Soren Under House Arrest Amid Tribal Protests

Former Jharkhand Chief Minister and BJP leader Champai Soren was placed under house arrest on Sunday morning as a preventive measure to maintain law and order amid protests by tribal outfits against the forced land acquisition for the Rs 1,000-crore RIMS-2 hospital project in Ranchi’s Nagri area. Ranchi City DSP K.V. Raman confirmed the move, citing the need to curb potential unrest during the ‘Hal Joto, Ropa Ropo’ (plough field, plant saplings) protest by farmers.

Soren’s son, Babulal Soren, and supporters, en route to join the protest, were detained at a police station in Tamar, 60 km from Ranchi. Heavy police deployment and barricades were set up across strategic points in the city to manage the demonstrations. Soren condemned the house arrest as “undemocratic,” stating on X, “The JMM government has confined me for raising the voice of tribal farmers.” He accused the JMM-led administration of violating the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, and Chotanagpur Tenancy Act by seizing land without notice or compensation.

The protests stem from allegations that the government forcibly acquired tribal land, fencing it to prevent farming. Posts on X, including from @BJP4Jharkhand, labeled the government’s actions “dictatorial,” amplifying Soren’s claims of tribal exploitation. The controversy highlights ongoing tensions over land rights, with Soren, a former JMM stalwart who joined BJP in August 2024, vowing to continue supporting the tribal cause.

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