Women block Bhuiyadih Chowk in protest against police lathicharge. Picture by Uma Shankar Dubey

Jamshedpur, Oct. 24: The Bhuiyandih Chowk in Sitaramdera remained jammed for over an hour as residents of Oraon Bustee in Old Sitaramdera put up a blockade demanding action against some “erring” policemen.

The blockade was lifted after Jugsalai MLA Dulal Bhuiyan and some senior police officers intervened. Around 11.30 am some officials from Tisco’s town electrical wanted to disconnect unauthorised power connections at the Oraon Bustee.

Policemen were accompanying the town electrical officials. As they entered the Bustee, the residents started resisting.

The slum dwellers, mostly women, told the officials that the illegal power tapping was not only done in the Oraon Bustee but was also done in the police lines.

The women then announced that they would not allow the officials to disconnect power lines unless they snapped off the illegal power being drawn by the policemen.

This reportedly sparked tension among some policemen present there resulting in a scuffle between the policemen and women.

According to eyewitnesses, the protesting women abused the policemen and resorted to stone pelting on which a constable sustained minor injuries.

On seeing this, policemen assaulted three women with sticks. Soon the agitating women went over to the Bhuiyandih Chowk and set up a blockade demanding action against the erring policemen.

Meanwhile, MLA and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader Dulal Bhuiyan reached the spot and intervened. He assured that he would take up the case with the district administration for action against the guilty policemen. The MLA later led the three women to the Sitaramdera police station and lodged an FIR against the policemen.

The town electrical officials had, however, left the Oraon Bustee by then.

The Sitaramdera police said they were investigating into the allegations and the case was yet to be registered.