All articles tagged with #jharkhand
Forest officials in Jharkhand are tracking a single-tusked elephant blamed for 22 deaths since January, with tranquilisation attempts failing as over 100 personnel hunt the animal that has moved nightly through villages, highlighting mounting human-elephant conflict driven by habitat loss and encroachment.
An adult male elephant in Jharkhand’s Saranda forest belt has killed at least 13 people over the past week as authorities struggle with rising human-wildlife conflict. Officials say the animal is in musth and has shown violent, erratic behavior; about 80 personnel have been deployed and wildlife experts from nearby regions have been brought in to tranquilize and steer the elephant away from villages, with four of the dead being from a single family.
A wild male elephant has killed at least 20 people over nine days in Jharkhand's Chaibasa and Kolhan forest areas. A large hunt involving over 100 forest personnel is ongoing to locate and capture the animal, which has proven elusive and active at night. Officials say the deaths reflect a human-elephant conflict linked to shrinking forests and habitat fragmentation. The elephant remains uncaptured, as authorities warn residents to stay indoors at night and continue the search; compensation has been announced for the victims’ families.
Former Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren criticized his recent arrest by the Enforcement Directorate as a "black chapter" in Indian democracy, while the JMM-led alliance, now under CM Champai Soren, successfully passed a trust vote in the state assembly. The alliance secured 47 votes, while the opposition NDA had 29. Hemant Soren alleged that the BJP and the governor were involved in his arrest, and vowed to fight back. The ED has evidence linking him to alleged land-related irregularities in Ranchi.
The JMM-led alliance comfortably won the trust motion in the Jharkhand Assembly, with the JMM using the opportunity to target the BJP for the arrest of its leader and former chief minister Hemant Soren, describing it as the targeting of Adivasis. The mood in the House was tense, with Soren addressing the House emotionally and vowing to resign from politics if any proof regarding his alleged illegal acquisition of land was tabled by the BJP. The ruling coalition MLAs frequently interrupted the Governor's speech with slogans, while the BJP's Amar Bauri attacked the Congress and warned the current CM to beware of the Congress.
Ahead of the crucial floor test in Jharkhand, the governing alliance of JMM-Congress-RJD flew their MLAs back to Ranchi from a resort in Hyderabad amid concerns over potential last-minute challenges. New CM Champai Soren is set to conduct the floor test on the first day of the assembly’s special session, claiming the support of 47 MLAs out of 48 in the alliance. Former CM Hemant Soren's presence is anticipated to address BJP’s accusations ahead of the upcoming polls. All MLAs were escorted to Ranchi circuit house for the night and will be bussed to the assembly together for Monday’s special session.
The Supreme Court refused to interfere in the arrest of former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren by the Enforcement Directorate on money laundering charges, dismissing his petition and extending his custody to five days. Soren had challenged the agency's actions as an attempt to destabilize a democratically-elected state government. Meanwhile, Champai Soren, a veteran leader of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, has taken oath as the new Chief Minister of Jharkhand.
Jharkhand's governor has invited Champai Soren to form a new government following Hemant Soren's resignation and arrest, with the coalition planning to relocate its MLAs to Hyderabad to prevent poaching attempts. Champai claims the support of 47 lawmakers out of 48, with the majority threshold at 41, and is ready for a floor test within 10 days. The delay in government formation prompted the relocation plan, echoing a similar action taken two years ago.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has alleged that former Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren illegally acquired and possessed 12 adjacent land parcels in Ranchi, measuring 8.5 acres, obtained by a syndicate involved in grabbing properties. Soren was arrested on money laundering charges in connection with an alleged land deal, and the ED sought his custody for further investigation. The case stems from raids against a sub-inspector in the revenue department, who allegedly worked with the land mafia. The agency claims to have recovered evidence linking Soren to the illegal acquisition and possession of the properties.
Champai Soren, the JMM legislative leader, has been appointed as the new Chief Minister of Jharkhand and invited to form the government by the state's governor. This comes after a video of 43 MLAs showing support for Soren was released. The JMM-led alliance, including Congress and RJD, has 47 MLAs in the 81-member assembly. The appointment follows a potential political crisis due to the arrest of former Chief Minister Hemant Soren in an alleged land and mining scam.
The political crisis in Jharkhand escalates as 43 lawmakers from the ruling alliance are moved to Telangana amid efforts to form a new government, with Champai Soren, the alliance's Chief Minister pick, meeting the Governor to stake his claim. The JMM-Congress-RJD alliance has 47 MLAs, and if the 43 supporting Champai Soren remain committed, he could be invited to form the new government. Meanwhile, former Chief Minister Hemant Soren has been arrested and sent to judicial custody, challenging his arrest in the Supreme Court.
As Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren resigns, all eyes are on Governor C P Radhakrishnan's role in appointing the new CM. The Governor's power to appoint the CM is limited by constitutional constraints, and he must ensure the CM-designate has the required numbers before inviting them to form the government. The Supreme Court has previously leaned towards an objective test to decide majority in such cases. A delay in forming a new government could lead to concerns about horse-trading and potential recommendation of President's Rule if the constitutional machinery breaks down.
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in a land scam, making him the first sitting CM of the state to be taken into custody in a corruption case. He resigned just hours before his arrest, and his party named his close aide and transport minister Champai Soren as his successor. The arrest followed a two-day standoff between Hemant and the central agency over alleged money laundering in a land scam. There were internal family feuds over the successor, and the governing coalition sought an appointment with the governor to demonstrate their strength. Hemant accused the ED of harassment and filed a case against its officers, while his supporters gathered at his residence during the questioning.