Who Were the Two Arrested for Inciting Riots on Hool Diwas in Jharkhand?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Two suspects arrested for inciting violence during Hool Diwas.
- Connection to former Chief Minister raises concerns.
- Police recovered illegal firearms and other suspicious materials.
- Violence broke out over unauthorized event management.
- Ongoing investigations to identify other involved parties.
Godda (Jharkhand), July 1 (NationPress) The police in Godda have detained two suspects who are believed to have played a role in igniting violence during Hool Diwas in Sahibganj district, according to law enforcement officials on Tuesday.
The suspects, Sudhir Kumar and Ganesh Mandal, were captured in the Nagar police station vicinity while in possession of three illicit firearms, ammunition, and other suspicious items, as reported by the authorities.
As per Godda Superintendent of Police Mukesh Kumar, initial investigations indicate that the individuals have close ties with former Chief Minister Champai Soren.
It is reported that Sudhir Kumar manages social media for the former CM, although this information is still being verified by the police.
The arrests occurred following violent confrontations on Monday, June 30, in Bhognadih village, Sahibganj, during Hool Diwas—a state-sponsored occasion honoring the Santhal uprising against British colonial rule in 1855.
Authorities allege that Sudhir and Ganesh were key in sparking disturbances during the event.
Interrogation has revealed that these individuals have been active in the Sahibganj, Barhait, and Borio regions since June 20. During this timeframe, they allegedly distributed money, dhotis, saris, and even weapons to local residents, seemingly with the intent to incite turmoil during the official state celebration.
An FIR addressing the violence has already been lodged by the Sahibganj district police. The Godda police initiated their operation after being informed by Sahibganj SP that some suspects involved in the unrest had fled towards Godda.
Through coordinated efforts across multiple police jurisdictions, Sudhir and Ganesh were successfully captured.
In addition to the illegal firearms, police also retrieved several saris and dhotis from the suspects. Efforts are underway to locate four to five other individuals believed to be part of the same network, with raids being conducted at suspected hideouts.
The mobile devices of both suspects have been confiscated, and their call logs and data are being meticulously analyzed.
SP Mukesh Kumar stated that the police may request custody of the suspects for further interrogation if deemed necessary.
Numerous injuries were reported following violent clashes between tribal groups and police in Bhognadih village during the observance of 'Hool Kranti Diwas'.
The conflict escalated when law enforcement and administrative personnel attempted to dismantle tents erected by the Sido-Kanhu Murmu Hool Foundation near the memorial site in Bhognadih.
The district administration had rejected a request for a parallel event organized by the foundation, which planned to host BJP leader and former Chief Minister Champai Soren as the chief guest.
As police moved to disassemble the unauthorized setup, tensions rose, resulting in stone-pelting, baton charges, and reports of arrows being shot by supporters of the foundation.
Tear gas was deployed to control the crowd. Many villagers and police officers were injured, with three policemen requiring hospitalization, according to officials.