Ranchi: The 12-hour state wide pro-domicile bandh called by the Jharkhand Disom Party (JDP) on September 24 evoked partial response with 305 JDP activists, including its founder member, Salkhan Murmu, BJP MP and his wife taken into preventive custody.

Altogether 183 arrests were made in East Singhbhum district while 122 persons were rounded up in Ranchi for violating prohibitory orders under Section 144 Cr pc amidst heavy police bundobast (security), police said.

Murmu and his wife, Sumitra, president of JDP and their supporters were detained a few yards away from their residence and were kept in preventive custody at Kadma police station in the steel city, the officer-in-charge said.

The bandh evoked partial response in the state capital while it failed to have much impact in East and West Singhbhum and Saraikela-Kharswan districts.

Shops remained closed in Ranchi while government offices, banks, majority of business establishments, educational institutions remained opened in the steel city.

Industries both in Ranchi and Jamshedpur functioned as usual. Public sector units and government offices were not affected.

In Ranchi, DGP control room sources said except for one or two road blocks, the bandh was peaceful. Bandh supporters blocked roads at Bundu and Dhurwa areas.

Some unidentified persons set afire a banana-laden lorry near Harmu. The driver and his helper however, escaped unhurt.

The bandh, the fifth in two months, has been called by the JDP in support of the domicile policy seeking 90 per cent reservation in employment and education.

PTI