Jamshedpur, June 9: Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) activists today staged a demonstration and prevented Tata Motors authorities from carrying out repairs on a section of a road in Telco colony and the reconstruction of a part of a demolished boundary wall there.

Some of residents of the area, mostly JMM workers and sympathisers, had allegedly demolished the boundary wall and set up shops on the road. The road is situated near the Kharangajhar market. The subdivisional officer of Dhalbhum, H.N. Ram, had to rush to the spot along with armed police jawans to prevent any untoward incident.

Ram said Tata Motors authorities wanted to repair the road, which led to chief minister Arjun Munda’s house in Ghurabandha. “They also wanted to rebuild the boundary wall, which was demolished and encroached upon by some residents to set up small shops,” the district official said.

He said hundreds of local JMM workers and shopkeepers prevented officials of the company from carrying out the repair work.

The district authorities were informed immediately and armed policemen, Ram and a deputy superintendent of police, S.K. Kujur, rushed to the spot.

The JMM activists raised slogans against the government and even threatened of dire consequences if any steps were taken to remove the encroachment. “They did not have problems with the road repairs. But they were apprehensive that if the boundary wall was rebuilt, they would have to remove their shops,” district officials said.

The activists, protesting under the leadership of JMM Jamshedpur block president Phani Mahto, forced the town administration officials to stop the work. “How could be the authorities undertake repairs of the road and rebuild the boundary wall without issuing any prior notice to us,” said a JMM worker.

Later, Ram convinced local JMM leaders of the need for immediate repairs as a large number of people used the road everyday. “We have also assured them that the shops will not be removed,” the subdivisional officer said.