Jharkhand’s capital Ranchi has been blanketed by heavy police cover as two persons succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained during Friday’s violent protests against controversial remarks on Prophet Mohammad by suspended BJP spokespersons as Hindutva outfits called for a bandh on Saturday, June 11, 2022 against the violence.
Around 2,500 police personnel, including one IG rank and DIG rank officer each, six SP rank officers, 100 DSP rank officers besides two Rapid Action Force (RAF) battalions, have been deployed in sensitive areas of Ranchi city, IG (Operations) Amol V Homkar told PTI.
“Twelve policemen and 12 others have been injured in the violence. One policeman has sustained bullet injuries. The funeral of the two deceased will take place during the day. Internet services will remain suspended till the situation normalises.
“An FIR has been registered and some people have been detained. We are keeping a strict vigil on the situation,” he said.
Two critically injured people were brought to state-run Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) between 11.30 PM and midnight on Friday with bullet injuries and they died during the course of treatment, an official of the medical establishment said.
“One of the deceased had gunshot wounds on his head, while the other had received bullet injuries on his neck. Post-mortem reports stated that both died due to gunshot wounds. Both were residents of Ranchi,” he said, adding that eight others are in the ICU.
Internet has also been suspended in the district, they added.
Over two dozen people were injured in the clashes that rocked the state capital on Friday, officials said.
Thirteen of the critically injured people were admitted to the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), doctors there said.
"Two of them died late last night. The conditions of three people are serious and they are battling for their lives. The injured include CRPF personnel and policemen," a RIMS official said.
Ranchi's Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Surendra Kumar Jha was admitted to the Medica Hospital with head injury, officials said.
Besides the head, he also received injuries in other parts of his body on being hit by stones, they said.
Some Hindutva outfits have called for a Ranchi bandh on Saturday, asking traders to keep their shops shut in protest against the violence.
Condemning the violence, Governor Ramesh Bais has asked Chief Minister Hemant Soren to take strict action against those involved.
The violent protesters have been demanding the arrest of suspended BJP spokespersons Nupur Sharma and Naveen Jindal for their controversial remarks on Prophet Mohammad
