Chief secretary DK Tiwari felicitates the widow of constable Govardhan Paswan who was killed by rebels. (Manob Chowdhary & Prashant Mitra)

Poll-bound Jharkhand will complete 19 years of its existence with a low-key 20th Statehood Day on Friday, thanks to the model code of conduct in force.

Usually marked by a flurry of events and big-ticket sops at Morabadi grounds in Ranchi, this Statehood Day will have three main events here.

The day will begin with governor Droupadi Murmu and CM Raghubar Das garlanding the statue of freedom fighter Birsa Munda — whose birth anniversary had been chosen for Jharkhand’s own birth anniversary — at the Birsa Samadhi Sthal in Kokar at 9am. Murmu and Das will then go to garland the icon at Birsa Chowk at 9.30am. The evening will see a cultural event at Morabadi grounds featuring Bollywood singer Sukhwinder Singh.

A day ahead on Thursday, the foundation day parade was held here on JAP-1 grounds.

Fifty-eight police personnel received medals in recognition of their exemplary services at the event where chief secretary D.K. Tiwari was the chief guest. While three received the governor’s medals for exemplary service, 28 the CM’s medals for bravery and 27 others for commendable service.

Appreciating the services that the police force rendered in Naxalite-hit areas on difficult terrain, Tiwari also lauded their efforts in other areas.

“I am told the Jharkhand online FIR system is now linked to 473 police stations of the state and that 34,078 of the 38,696 cases lodged online have been disposed of,” he said.

Mumbai celebrations

Birsa Munda Seva Sangh, a social outfit of people of Jharkhand origin residing in Mumbai, has organised a Statehood Day event in Chembur, Mumbai, on Friday. Nupur Gupta, an organiser from Hazaribagh, said their event will be attended by BJP MP Poonam Mahajan. “We will honour Jharkhandis who have excelled in various fields in Mumbai,” she said.