Ranchi: On Sunday morning, a group of boys with cricket kits stopped near the locked gates of Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium, waited a moment, and then moved towards the boundary wall. One by one, they climbed over it and jumped inside.For many young athletes here, that wall has become the only way in.The stadium, once a regular practice ground and a popular morning hub for walkers, joggers, children and elderly residents, has remained sealed since Aug. The Ranchi administration had shut the venue after it emerged as a hotspot during the recent protests by job aspirants, amid fears that protesters could regroup there. Prohibitory orders were also imposed in and around the stadium.Nearly two months later, the gates remain locked. The administration has cited maintenance, but residents and players said there is little sign of any work. The ground was overrun with knee-high bushes, and no workers were seen at the site on Sunday.Inside, however, a few young cricketers continued with practice after entering through the boundary wall.Roshan, one of the players, said this had become routine. “There is a board saying the ground is under maintenance, but we have not seen any work for the past two months,” he said.The closure has hit more than athletes. The stadium also has children’s facilities, an open gym and walking space used daily by local residents. With the gates locked, elderly morning walkers have been pushed onto nearby roads.Jayant Kumar, a resident of Main Road area, said the stadium had been his preferred exercise spot for years. “We suffered during the month-long protest and expected the ground to reopen after that. But the administration locked it again, leaving us with no option but to walk on the roads,” he said.Vendors outside the stadium have also taken a hit. Amit Singh, who ran a fast-food stall near the entrance, said the evening crowd kept his business going before the closure.“People visited the stadium throughout the day, especially in the evening. Since Aug 21, it has remained sealed, so I had to shut my shop,” he said.For now, the stadium remains out of bounds — unless one is willing to climb a wall.
