Archive · 22 Aug 2026
BJP Workers Detained After Giridih Effigy Protest Scuffle
BJP workers in Giridih held a protest against the alleged assault of students.
They carried an effigy of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren.
Police tried to stop the effigy from being burned, and a scuffle followed.
Police detained 15 people at the scene.
About 90 more protesters voluntarily courted arrest but were later released.
Some activists later burned other effigies in two places.
In nearby Hazaribag, hundreds of students held a quiet march.
They gave roses to police to show that they would continue protesting peacefully.
Fifteen BJP workers were detained after a scuffle with police in Giridih during an effigy-burning protest.
Around 90 additional BJP workers courted arrest and were later released, according to the sub-divisional magistrate.
The BJP said the protest opposed an alleged assault on students by JMM activists in Giridih the previous day.
Other activists later burned effigies bearing Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s photograph near Tower Chowk and Giridih Sadar Hospital.
Hundreds of Hazaribag students held a silent procession and offered roses to police while protesting an alleged police lathi-charge.
- Who
- BJP workers, police, students, and alleged JMM activists were involved in the protests and related disputes.
- What
- A scuffle occurred during an attempted effigy-burning protest in Giridih, while students held a separate silent procession in Hazaribag.
- When
- The incidents occurred on Saturday, after an alleged student assault and alleged police lathi-charge on Friday; the report is dated August 22.
- Where
- The events took place in Giridih and Hazaribag districts of Jharkhand, including Tower Chowk, Giridih Sadar Hospital, Gandhi Maidan, and District More.
- Why
- The BJP said its protest was against an alleged assault on students by JMM activists, while Hazaribag students protested an alleged police lathi-charge.
Protesters’ allegations
Authorities’ account
Cause of the Giridih confrontation
Protesters’ allegations
BJP workers alleged that police seized their effigy, leading to the scuffle.
Authorities’ account
Police detained 15 people during the confrontation but did not provide a separate account of who initiated the scuffle in the report.
Reason for the BJP protest
Protesters’ allegations
BJP town president Ranjeet Rai said the protest opposed the alleged assault on students by JMM activists in Giridih on Friday.
Authorities’ account
The report presents the assault as an allegation and does not include a response from JMM representatives.
Hazaribag police action
Protesters’ allegations
Students protested what they described as a police lathi-charge and said their rose offering signaled that protests would continue despite possible force or water cannons.
Authorities’ account
The report does not include a police response to the students’ allegation.
- Detained
- 15 BJP workers were detained at the protest site.
- Arrests courted
- About 90 other BJP workers courted arrest and were later released.
- Protest location
- The BJP procession began at Jhanda Ground and moved toward Tower Chowk in Giridih.
- Effigy burnings
- Effigies were later burned near Tower Chowk and Giridih Sadar Hospital.
- Hazaribag procession
- Hundreds of students marched from Gandhi Maidan to District More.
- Student gesture
- Students offered roses to police personnel during the silent procession.