Jharkhand: Bandh over murder of BJP leader Anil Mahto in Ranchi, NDA leaders question law and order situation

Ranchi: Leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on March 27 called for a Bandh (shutdown) after the murder of former member of district council and leader Anil Mahro alias Anil Tiger.

Tiger was shot dead by two assailants in broad daylight at Kanke road of the state capital Ranchi on Wednesday evening. He was immediately rushed to the hospital where the doctors declared him brought dead.

The police was quick to launch an investigation into the matter, nabbing an accused involved in the incident that rocked the state’s capital.

“An accused in the murder of BJP leader Anil Tiger has been arrested after an encounter. He has been shot in the thigh. After being identified, police teams started chasing him. On seeing the police team, he opened fire. In retaliation, the police shot him and arrested him. The investigation is ongoing,” SSP Ranchi said.

The news of the murder of Mahto agitated the BJP workers who staged protest against the law and order situation, calling for a Bandh in Ranchi on Thursday. The call for the shutdown also received support from the Janata Dal United (JDU) and AJSU.

Workers of the BJP staged a strong protest against the murder of Mahto, jamming roadways at several locations in the capital city on Thursday. The protesting workers were later detained by the police.

#WATCH | Jharkhand | BJP leaders hold protest against the murder of BJP leader Anil Tiger in Ranchi, put under preventive detention by police

SP City-Ranchi Raj Kumar Mehta says," We are trying to restore normalcy and open the shops here as implementing a 'Bandh' is not a… pic.twitter.com/pAZc8uUXyv

— ANI (@ANI) March 27, 2025

Reacting to his detention, BJP leader Pratul Shahdeo said, “Instead of catching criminals, political leaders who are protesting peacefully are being taken away by the police.”

“The way Anil Tiger was killed; he was a senior BJP leader… It is very unfortunate. Ranchi is becoming the crime capital. Just 25 meters away from the police station, in broad daylight, a public representative was killed… today the police are here to detain me… I wish the police had shown this effort when bullets were fired at him,” he added.

Leaders of the NDA also held a protest against the murder and worsening law and order situation near the gates of the state assembly where several of the leaders were seen holding placards against the state government.

Union Minister Sanjay Seth too joined in the protest against the incident. “I, as a public representative, cannot be a mute spectator. Ranchi has become a capital of crime. The rule of law has collapsed under Hemant Soren’s government. This is jungle raj. I say the ‘Yogi’ model should be implemented here. In the morning, DSP came to my residence. I don’t need security or need to sit in a guest house, as I am a public representative,”  Seth said.

#WATCH | Jharkhand | Union MoS Defence Sanjay Seth, along with BJP leaders and workers, holds protest against the murder of BJP leader Anil Tiger in Ranchi

He says, "I, as a public representative, cannot be a mute spectator. Ranchi has become a capital of crime. The rule of law… pic.twitter.com/kMjRsbE45x

— ANI (@ANI) March 27, 2025

The incident also attracted sharp reactions from other NDA leaders who while criticising the state government, alleged that the criminal activities have surged up in the state.

“State’s law and order is very poor and the prime reason for it is the police system here… In a state where there is so much crime, how can one person, holding multiple posts will be able to control the crime. Chief Minister Hemant Soren should be held answerable for this”, said BJP state unit president Babu Lal Marandi.

VIDEO | On Ranchi bandh called over the murder of former zila panchayat member Anil Tiger, Jharkhand BJP president Babulal Marandi (@yourBabulal) says,

“Jharkhand’s law and order is very poor and the prime reason for it is the police system here… In a state where there is so… pic.twitter.com/DsSToFoNMV

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 27, 2025

Marandi also visited Ranchi Kotwali over detention of BJP leaders protesting against the murder of Mahto. “Since when did standing up against injustice become a crime? If demanding justice for the brutal murder of Tiger Anil Mahto is a crime, then every BJP worker will commit this crime he added.

AJSU president Sudesh Mahto also trained guns on the state government over the incident, claiming that the morale of criminals has increased in the state.

“The morale of criminals has increased in the state. The criminal activities in Ranchi have increased. We are standing with the family of BJP leader Anil Tiger,” Mahto said.

Meanwhile Superintendent of Police (SP) City-Ranchi assured that the police investigation is underway in the case. “Police action is underway in the case. There is no place for criminals here. We are trying to restore normalcy and open the shops here, as implementing a ‘Bandh’ is not a constitutional right,” said SP City-Ranchi Raj Kumar Mehta.