Tazia erected on private land in Gumla triggers controversy, BJP demands removal

A dispute over an allegedly illegal religious structure on private land in Gumla has taken a political turn, with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state president and Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi writing to Chief Minister Hemant Soren demanding its removal and action against those responsible.

The controversy centres around a Tazia structure said to have been established over three weeks ago on the raiyati (private) land of Rupesh Kumar Singh in Baraik Mohalla, Gumla. According to Marandi, the structure was erected on a brick platform during Muharram by a group from a particular community, without the consent of the landowner.

Advertisement

Despite an FIR lodged by Singh, the administration has not acted to remove the structure. Marandi said the landowner and those who informed him of the encroachment had received threats, raising fears of communal tension in the area.

“The police remain mute spectators and appear reluctant to enforce the law under pressure. Such inaction in a clear case of illegal encroachment sends a dangerous signal,” Marandi wrote in his letter to the Chief Minister. He urged the state police to act “without fear or bias” and uphold their institutional credibility.

The BJP leader accused the Hemant Soren-led government of “appeasement and vote-bank politics,” claiming that the administration’s selective response to such cases has eroded public trust. He alleged that incidents involving land encroachment and religious structures are rising under political protection.

Marandi said the Gumla case reflected a broader governance failure, adding that “the government has failed to ensure the safety of citizens, their property and dignity.” He warned that the BJP would launch a statewide agitation if the administration fails to free the land and prosecute the accused.

The letter also points to the growing political mobilisation around law-and-order issues in Jharkhand, with the BJP sharpening its criticism of the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM).

Local residents have expressed concern over the situation and urged the authorities to act promptly to prevent any disturbance to communal harmony. District officials have yet to issue an official statement, though administrative sources said the matter is under review.

The episode has become a test of the government’s ability to maintain both law and communal balance. The state’s response to Marandi’s letter is likely to shape public perception of administrative neutrality in the days ahead.