26 Feb 2024 | 07:36 PM UTC
India: Jharkhand Mukti Morcha party activists to rally in Ranchi Feb. 27
Jharkhand Mukti Morcha party to stage protest in Ranchi, India, Feb. 27; increased security, transport and business disruptions likely.
Activists affiliated with the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM, or Jharkhand Liberation Front) will stage a protest in Ranchi on Feb. 27 to demand the release of party leader and former Chief Minister Hemant Soren. The specific time and place at which the planned protest would begin were not immediately clear; however, potential rally sites include prominent government buildings, public squares, and thoroughfares. Local JMM leaders have said that some 10,000 people will participate in the demonstration.
Authorities will almost certainly monitor the protest and could use force to disperse overly unruly crowds. Officials could impose security restrictions, including temporary public gathering controls, depending on operational needs. Clashes between activists and police, as well as between supporters of rival political groups, cannot be ruled out. Localized transport and business disruptions are highly likely.
Avoid all protest activity as a precaution. Depart the area at the first sign of any security disturbance. Plan accordingly for localized transport and business disruptions. Heed all official transport and security advisories.
India's Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Soren on Jan. 31 in connection with a corruption case involving alleged money laundering. Soren claims his arrest was politically motivated. JMM activists have accused the federal government, led by the rival Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), of using government agencies to target and sideline opposition leaders ahead of the country's upcoming general elections.
