Ranchi, Dec 19: The Jharkhand Police has launched a manhunt to arrest the retired Block Development Officer (BDO) Ramo Birua for declaring Kohlan division of Jharkhand a separate country from India. The BDO had not only declared Kolhan a different nation but attempted to collect rent from the residents. Kohlan is one of the many divisions in Jharkhand. After foiling an event to declare ‘freedom’ for Kohlan, the police also slapped sedition charges on supporters of Birua in Manakai-Munda village. Also Read - Kanhaiya Kumar 'Welcomes' Delhi Govt's Prosecution Nod, Says 'Ensure Speedy Trial in Court of Law'

The police officials said the pamphlets were also distributed in the area to exhort people to participate in the programme. It also arrested Munna Baan Singh, a resident of Badeya village and supporter of Birua. “We conducted raids on the house of Birua also but he managed to escape. Currently, he is underground,” The Indian Express quoted DSP (headquarters) Prakash Soy as saying. Also Read - Woman Chants 'Pakistan Zindabad' at Owaisi's Bengaluru Rally, Faces Sedition Charges | WATCH

The police officials claimed Birua was earlier arrested for similar activities. “Birua had been making this claim for the past few years. He had begun appointing a manaki-munda on his own, claiming to be the de facto administrator, or khewatdar, of Kolhan. He was arrested over eight months ago for similar claims and activities. He was released from jail a couple of months ago and had again resumed the same things,” said Chaibasa SP Anish Gupta. Also Read - Booked Under Sedition Charges, 3 Students From Kashmir Released in Bengaluru

Birua had claimed that his family was declared ‘Khewatdar’ in the colonial era. However, police officials discarded the claims. “There is no authenticity in the documents and everything is self-styled. He was trying to appoint people and seek rents,” said Gupta.