Villagers, farmers, and members of tribal communities in Ranchi staged a large-scale protest on Thursday, 11 June against the proposed RIMS-2 medical college and hospital in the Nagri area of Jharkhand's capital, demanding that the state government abandon plans to acquire fertile agricultural land for the project. The demonstration, organised under the banner of tribal organisations and the Nagri Zameen Bachao Sangharsh Samiti, drew men, women, and youth in significant numbers.

March Stopped at Kanke Block Chowk

Protesters attempted to march toward the Chief Minister's residence but were halted by police and district administration near Block Chowk in Kanke. Barricades were erected to prevent the procession from advancing, and officials attempted to redirect demonstrators toward the Kanke Block Office. Additional police forces were deployed across the area as a precautionary measure, with officials engaging protesters to maintain law and order.

Protesters warned that if denied access via the main route, they would seek alternative means to convey their concerns to the government, and pledged to continue their democratic struggle to protect their land.

Why Protesters Oppose the Project

The core grievance centres on land. Demonstrators allege that the Nagri area land earmarked for RIMS-2 is highly fertile, and that a large section of the local population depends on agriculture for their livelihood. Acquiring such land, they argue, would directly undermine the income and food security of farming families.

Agitation participants were clear that their opposition was not directed at development itself. 'We are not against development,' protesters said, 'but we will not accept the acquisition of fertile agricultural land in the name of development.' They also framed the issue as one of identity, culture, and the future of tribal communities — not merely an economic dispute.

Protesters' Demand to the Government

Demonstrators called on the Jharkhand state government to identify barren or non-agricultural land for the proposed medical institution if it genuinely intends to expand healthcare infrastructure. The Nagri Zameen Bachao Sangharsh Samiti and allied tribal organisations have been at the forefront of local resistance, which has reportedly been building for some time ahead of Thursday's march.

Background and Ongoing Resistance

Opposition to the RIMS-2 project in the Nagri area is not new. Villager and farmer groups have consistently maintained that land acquisition for the project threatens a large number of families. This comes amid a broader pattern of tribal land-rights agitations in Jharkhand, where land acquisition for infrastructure and institutional projects has repeatedly triggered community-led protests. Thursday's march represents a visible escalation of that sustained local resistance.

With administration and protesters at an impasse near Kanke, the situation remains fluid. How the Jharkhand government responds — particularly whether it engages formally with the Nagri Zameen Bachao Sangharsh Samiti — will determine whether the agitation intensifies in the days ahead.