Chaibasa, a small town in Jharkhand’s West Singhbhum district, has become a symbol of the growing tension between development and democracy.
Ranchi::On the night of October 27, 2025, the demand for a No-Entry Zone for heavy vehicles in the city turned into a scene of state repression when police resorted to lathi-charge and tear gas on peaceful protestors at Tambo Chowk.
Several people were injured, and many were detained.
What unfolded that night was not merely a law-and-order action — it was a chilling reminder of how people’s voices are often silenced when they speak up for safety, dignity, and the right to live.
Caught Between Mining Giants and Public Safety
West Singhbhum is known for its rich iron ore mines in Noamundi and Manoharpur. Every day, hundreds of trucks and dumpers carrying ore thunder down the NH-220 and NH-75 highways — routes that pass directly through densely populated areas like Hatgamharia, Jhinkpani, and Chaibasa town.
The demand of the people was simple and legitimate — restrict the entry of heavy vehicles into the town during daytime.
Over the past year, several fatal accidents have occurred due to the reckless movement of mining trucks, claiming the lives of many innocent Adivasi and marginalized residents.
Despite this, the local MLA and Transport Minister Deepak Birua reportedly discontinued the existing No-Entry rule — a decision many allege was influenced by mining and transport lobbies.
Democracy on the Streets
Ahead of the protest, the district administration imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144, and on October 25, four youth leaders — Madhav Chandra Kunkal, Reyans Samad, Ramesh Balmuchu, and Sona Sawayian — were arrested preemptively.
Nevertheless, on October 27, a large number of Adivasi and Moolvasi villagers gathered peacefully at Tambo Chowk. They sang, danced, cooked food together, and vowed to continue their indefinite sit-in until their demands were heard.
As night fell, police arrived in buses and launched an unprovoked assault — baton-charging and firing tear gas on the peaceful gathering.Local YouTubers and independent journalists were also detained, and videos of the incident were allegedly deleted from their phones.
A Familiar Pattern of Suppression
Unfortunately, this is not an isolated event in Jharkhand. Similar patterns of suppression have been witnessed in Mandar, Tandwa, Latehar, and Godda, where local communities have resisted displacement and environmental destruction caused by mining and industrial projects.
The people of Jharkhand have never rejected development — they only demand that development should not come at the cost of human life and dignity.
When schoolchildren of Tata College or St. Xavier’s School risk their lives every day crossing roads filled with speeding ore trucks, it becomes more than just a traffic issue — it becomes a human rights concern.
“Attack on Democracy,” says Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha
The Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha (JJM) strongly condemned the police action, calling it “a brutal assault on democratic rights.”
In its statement, the Mahasabha said,
“It is evident that the local MLA and Minister Deepak Birua stands with mining and transport companies, not with the people of his constituency. The state’s response to people’s peaceful protests has been increasingly repressive and anti-democratic.”
The organization has put forth the following key demands:
1. Immediate departmental action against police and administrative officials responsible for the violence.
2. Unconditional release of the arrested youth leaders and all detained protestors.
3. Immediate implementation of No-Entry restrictions for heavy vehicles during daytime and dialogue with local residents for a permanent solution.
4. If national highways are involved, the state government should formally urge the Centre to act in accordance with people’s demands.
The True Test of Democracy
The real strength of democracy does not lie in the might of the police baton, but in the power of people’s voices.
When citizens take to the streets peacefully to demand safety and justice, and the response they receive is violence and intimidation, it weakens the very soul of democratic governance.
The Chaibasa incident is a wake-up call — a reminder that no development is meaningful if it endangers the lives and dignity of those it claims to serve.
In Conclusion:
The streets of Chaibasa are not just filled with iron ore trucks; they carry the heavy burden of a people’s struggle for justice.
The demand for No-Entry is not merely a traffic regulation — it is a cry for life, safety, and the right to be heard.
In Jharkhand’s soil, the spirit of resistance and justice continues to breathe — despite repression, despite silence, despite fear.
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