Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das on Saturday visited Hinoo Chowk here and appealed to the people to maintain peace and tranquility, official sources said. He directed Director General of Police D K Pandey to keep a strict vigil in the wake of tension between two communities at Manik Tola since last night.
Ranchi Deputy Commissioner Manoj Kumar said prohibitory order under section 144 CRPC was promulgated at Manik Tola area last night and in Ranchi city on Saturday banning processions and gathering in groups.
At least 60 persons were taken into preventive custody, Kumar said.
Police forces were deployed in strength and the situation was now "under control", he said.
Sporadic clashes were reported in the area since last night.
The Chief Minister visited places like Hinoo Chowk, Doranda, Mahatma Gandhi Mark and Firayalal Chowk, and appealed for peace, an official release said.
"Communal harmony and social harmony have been a tradition in Ranchi and the government will take stringent action against those harming harmony," the release said.
Asking people not to pay attention to rumours, Das said the situation in the state capital was "under control".
If any innocent person was among the arrested ones, he would be let off, and if any person sustained <g data-gr-id="36">injury</g>, the government would treat that person, the release said. DGP D K Pandey and ADGP S N Pradhan accompanied the chief minister during his visit.