Security personnel resort to mild lathi-charge and fire tear gas shells to disperse a group of villagers protesting ahead of an official government function to mark Hul Diwas (Rebellion Day), at Bhognadih in Sahibganj district of Jharkhand, Monday, June 30, 2025.
| Photo Credit: PTI
Police resorted to lathi-charge, fired tear gas to disperse villagers protesting ahead of an official government function to mark the Hul Diwas in Jharkhand’s Bhognadih located in Sahibganj district.
Bhognadih, a historically significant village, is the birthplace of tribal icons Sido and Kanhu Murmu, who led the Santhal rebellion against British rule Hul Diwas marks the 1855 Santhal rebellion against the British.
The villagers, led by the Sido-Kanhu Murmu Hul Foundation and Aato Manjhi Vashi Bhognadih , were protesting against the district administration’s alleged dismantling of a separate stage they had set up to commemorate Hul Diwas in their capacity.
Earlier, the descendants of Sido-Kanhu alleged that they were denied permission by the administration to observe Hul Diwas and the stage they had erected to observe the occasion was damaged by police administration.
A police officer said that a mild lathi-charge was ordered after some villagers attacked the police force using bows and arrows.
Jharkhand Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president and Leader of opposition Babulal Marandi strongly condemned the incident calling it a barbaric act on the tribal community.
He asserted that the repressive incident of lathicharge in Bhognadih will prove to be the reason for the fall of the Hemant Soren government.
“The incident of lathi-charge and use of tear gas by the police in Bhognadih on the auspicious occasion of Hul Diwas is extremely condemnable and unfortunate. Many villagers have been injured in this barbaric action,”Mr. Marandi said.
He further said, “Today’s barbarity has refreshed the memories of British rule. On the land of Hul revolution, after six generations, once again the descendants of Sido-Kanhu had to take to the streets against tyranny and injustice.”
Mr. Marandi alleged that the state government is sitting in the lap of the infiltrators and does not want the tribal society of Jharkhand to get inspired by the heroic tales and sacrifices of their ancestors to protect their identity and rights.
Lashing out at the state government, Mr. Marandi said the conspiracy of the government will never succeed.
“The brave Sido-Kanhu, Chand-Bhairav and Phoolo-Jhano shook the foundation of British rule through the Hul revolution, in the same way today’s oppressive incident of lathi charge in Bhognadih will prove to be the reason for the downfall of the Hemant government,”Mr. Marandi said.
Mr. Soren could not go to Bhognadih as he was in the national capital where his father and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) founder Shibu Soren is hospitalised in New Delhi’s Gangaram Hospital.
He however, posted a message on social media account saying, “Baba Dishom Guruji, who follows their footsteps of struggle and dedication, is currently unwell. Due to this, I could not come to the revolutionary, brave land of Bhognadih this time.”
He further said, “But Hul Divas is not just a one-day event for us. Hul Divas is a day of resolve for us, Hul is our strength, Hul is our identity. In the coming times, there will be a Hul Ulgulan for the tribal religion code, tribal culture, language, civilization, and identity. On Hul Divas, a hundred salutes to the immortal brave martyrs! Hul Johar! Jai Jharkhand!”
Published – July 01, 2025 01:40 am IST
