Mail News Service
Jamshedpur, Dec 26: A portion of the Kadma Ganesh Puja Maidan has remained under prohibition since the past 12 years. This has been caused by imbroglios created by various political parties and groups. It all started when people wanted to set up a memorial for slain JMM leader and former Jamshedpur parliamentarian Sunil Mahto. The selected spot measuring 20’x 20’ was being readied for establishing a statue of Sunil Mahto that had already arrived. Four concrete pillars had also been set up when the matter caught the eye of Tata Steel officials who complained to the district authorities. The then ADC Rakesh Kumar reached the spot to halt the construction but ewas confronted by Sunil Mahto’s wife and the then MP Suman Mahto. The district administration then filed a case in the connection with the High Court from where a ruling regarding imposition of prohibitory order was released on May 14, 2008. The HC order mentioned that the status would continue to remain thus until further orders. No further order came from the HC and the district administration had since then issuing Sec 144 every three months to keep the area out of bounds for construction of the memorial to Sunil Mahto.
Since May 14, 2008, the Kadma Ganesh Puja Maidan has remained under the prohibitory status of Sec 144. Every year Ganesh Puja is celebrated at the Maidan in a huige area leaving the 20’x20’ square untouched. The Ganesh Puja Mela at the ground is well known. But in the square marked for Sunil Mahto’s memorial no meeting or demonstration can be organized and not more than five persons are allowed to gather there as per the rulings under Sec 144. Dhalbhum SDO Nitish Kumar Singh vide an order of December 24 has extended the prohibitory order in the memorial area.
The memorial area is 1/3 rd of the total ground measurement and in front of it are the company residential quarters.
