Red flags came up over security measures in the capital when two bike-borne assailants shot at state Home Department Section Officer Manoj Kumar near Dhurwa roundabout, located only 1.7 km from Jharkhand Secretariat, on Thursday. The shootout took place at around 10:30 in the morning when Kumar turned towards the street leading to Project Building.
The assailants advanced towards Kumar on their motorcycle and started firing, which injured him in the abdominal region. He was rushed to the nearby HEC Hospital in critical condition and was later referred to Medica Hospital for better medical attention. His condition is stable and he is out of danger now, hospital sources said.
Hatia DSP Radha Prem Kishore said, “We are investigating the matter. The reason behind the shootout is yet to be known as Manoj Kumar is under treatment in ICU and unable to tell us anything.”
“We are focusing our search operations in and around Dhurwa to apprehend the culprits. We are trying to get the details of the two culprits and the vehicle they used during the incident. They will be in our clutch soon,” stated City SP Jaya Roy.
Meanwhile, officials and employees of Jharkhand Government boycotted work for 20 minutes in protest against the shootout. They presented a memorandum to Home Secretary NN Pandey, demanding the culprits to be captured within 24 hours.
Jharkhand Secretariat Service Union later convened a meeting in this regard and decided that they will go on strike if the culprits are not arrested within 24 hours. They also submitted eight-point demand letter to Chief Secretary Rajiv Gauba demanding free treatment for Manoj Kumar and enhance the security of his family and that of the Secretariat. They also demanded transportation facilities for Secretariat employees who work in late hours.