A major confrontation broke out in the Nagdi area of Ranchi, Jharkhand, on Sunday when farmers opposing land acquisition for the proposed Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences-2 (RIMS-2) clashed with the police.
The standoff, marked by heavy security deployment, the use of tear gas and baton charge, once again underscored the deep resistance among tribal communities to part with agricultural land.
The district administration had sealed off the disputed land in Nagdi under the Kanke zone, erecting barricades on all approach roads.
Security personnel in large numbers patrolled the area, while senior officials, including the SDM, ADM (Law and Order), and Rural SP, supervised the operation. Despite these measures, hundreds of farmers managed to reach the site by slipping through narrow field paths.
Once inside, the protesters launched the “Khet Joto, Ropa Ropo” agitation, ploughing the land and sowing seeds to assert their ownership. In a striking display of defiance, men and women wore masks of veteran tribal leader and JMM patriarch Shibu Soren.
Organisers said the masks symbolised the unbroken legacy of tribal struggles for land rights, recalling Soren’s decades-long fight against displacement and exploitation.
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Led by Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JLKM) leader Devendra Mahato, the agitators also hoisted a Sarna flag on the disputed land. This move provoked the police, who swiftly intervened.
Tear gas shells were fired and lathis used to disperse the crowd, leading to chaos. Several protesters were detained on the spot, including villagers from Nagdi and leaders from neighbouring districts.
Police confirmed that prohibitory orders had been imposed in the area to prevent “law and order disruption.” Rural SP Praveen Pushkar said the agitators were attempting to breach a restricted zone.
“To stop the crowd from creating a ruckus and forcibly entering the site, controlled force was used. The situation is now under control,” he said.
The protesters, however, accused the government of betraying their trust. Villagers argued that even after 25 years of Jharkhand’s formation, their struggle to save agricultural land continues. “Our land is our life. Hospitals can be built elsewhere, but this soil cannot be replaced,” a farmer said.
The clash left Nagdi tense, with both the government and tribal farmers standing firm. While the administration insists RIMS-2 is vital for Ranchi’s healthcare needs, villagers say their movement will only intensify until their land is freed.
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