The rape of over 1600 women and girls in a year gave the opposition BJP a stick to beat the Soren government with. Amid allegations of worsening law and order situation, particuarly incidents of rape, the JMM-Congress-RJD government in Jharkhand led by Hemant Soren completed one year in office, as the state battled the COVID- 19 pandemic and a massive migrant crisis in 2020. An average of four rape cases were reported in the tribal-dominated state every day, with most victims being minors, according to state police records. Those demanding Pathalgarhi want no laws of the land be applicable to the tribal people in the area. Shibu Soren, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha supremo and father of the chief minister, and state BJP chief Deepak Prakash were elected to the Rajya Sabha in June.

Source: The Hindu December 31, 2020 07:20 UTC