As Jharkhand reeled under an avalanche of bandhs organised by over a dozen political parties and outfits with various demands on Wednesday, an obscure group’s warning of acid attacks on women wearing jeans caused the biggest anxiety among most people.
Three large, handwritten posters in bold red ink by the unknown Jharkhand Mukti Sangh pasted at the main thoroughfares in capital Ranchi on Tuesday heightened public unease and put the police on vigil.
The group threatened acid attacks on women wearing jeans and T-shirts and seen without their dupattas. The posters said the outfit would start the attacks from August 20, 2012.
Coming days after a young woman in Jharkhand left blind by an acid attack and another girl threatened with such horror, the posters messages were hard to ignore for many, especially women.
To make matters look worse, Jharkhand’s women and child development minister Vimla Pradhan chose to react by advising college girls on dressing up.
“Girls should avoid wearing vulgar dresses. Parents have a role to play. They should exercise discretion in wearing dresses,” she said.
She, however, condemned the latest public threats as 'negative mentality'.
Sources in Jharkhand police said the Jharkhand Mukti Sangh is believed to be a pro-Maoist group. The use of red ink, they said, suggested the group’s Maoist links, though the left-wing rebels are not known for moral policing of this nature in Jharkhand.
“We are trying to ascertain the origin of the posters pasted at the Albert Ekka roundabout, St Xavier’s College and the registry office. It could be the handiwork of some miscreants,” said Ranchi SSP Saket Kumar Singh.