Ranchi, Feb. 4: Simdega district of Jharkhand, sharing borders with Odisha and Chhattisgarh, observed a total shutdown today and it wasn't because Maoists had called a bandh.
If the markets, usually bustling with activity on Saturday's, were shut and the town wore deserted look, it was because residents had decided to observe a day's closure to protest the transfer of deputy commissioner Vijoy Kumar Singh, perhaps the first instance when the headquarters of a district, most famous as a Maoist hub, stood up in unison for a government official.
Singh, whose transfer to Ranchi as registrar of cooperative societies was announced yesterday, has become the darling of the people, for his innovative approach to deal with their problems. One the first things he did when he took charge of the district on July 27, 2015, was to repair dams and canals to ensure villagers could get back to farming and subsequently reap bumper harvests.
He also started to develop model villages in each block. To encourage tourism, he launched the Ramrekhadham Mahotsav and also took up development of various dams, for instance, at Kelaghagh, Dahangaddi, and the Van Durga temple. He also continued the work of his predecessor Deeprava Lakra to train and rehabilitate trafficking victims, especially women.
Today, most shops remained closed, while there was hardly a single vehicle on the road. Residents, mobilised by members of the Simdega Chamber of Commerce and Industry, protested peacefully. They did not resort to roadblocks. Nor did they fell tree trunks on the highway to Ranchi, an all too familiar Maoist tactic to stop police vehicles from plying.
That was because they had been warned against doing so by Singh no less.
"Today, when I learnt that those who were opposed to my transfer were going to block roads, including the highway linking Ranchi with Birmitrapur in Odisha, I asked them not to. I have begun packing my belongings," Singh told The Telegraph, adding that he would hand over charge on Monday to his successor, Manju Nath Bhajantri, who was till now MD of Jharkhand Vidyut Sanchar Nigam.
Last evening, after news of Singh's transfer reached the district, notables of the town held a series of meetings that went on late into the night. They decided to observe a Simdega bandh today and stage a dharna at Mahaveer Chowk, the busiest thoroughfare of the district town.
Today, during his dharna, chamber president Motilal Agrawal was accompanied by several others, including senior BJP leaders Om Prakash Sahu and Shyamlal Sharma, Congressman Kaushal Rohilla, JMM leader Louise Kujur and INTUC leader Rajesh Kumar Singh.
Many of them addressed the gathering at the chowk, saying that Singh's sudden transfer was unfortunate. They praised Singh's dedication, saying during his one and-a-half-year long tenure, he had kick-started development projects in rebel zones, worked tirelessly for the rehabilitation of women who were trafficked, apart from implementing social security schemes and ensuring compensation to victims of Naxalite terror.
"Our DC was working strategically for the integrated growth of Simdega district and the results had begun to show. We also tried to call on the chief minister in Ranchi to request him revoke the transfer, but his private secretary, Anjan Sarkar, denied us an appointment," said the chamber's media cell in-charge Rajesh Singh.
Sources said the chief minister's office sent word that since Singh's transfer was "routine" in nature, nothing could be done. Not much should be seen in it either.
But, Simdega isn't giving up. Already a signature campaign has been launched.
"We are not going to remain mute spectators to his sudden transfer. Several organisations are joining in our peaceful protests," said social outfit Krishak Bandhu secretary Prabhat Kumar.
