A person died in police-villagers’ clash in Chatti Bariatu village of Keredari block of Hazaribagh district. In police firing Keshar Mahto died on the spot.
Five persons Nanhu Mahto, Ramesh Mahto, Kamal Mahto, Makkhan Verma and Rohit Mahto are injured in which Rohit Mahto and Nanhu Mahto have been referred to RIMS, Ranchi, while rest four are receiving treatment at the Sadar Hospital, Hazaribagh. The incident took place in Chatti Bariatu village where construction work of NTPC site office was in progress. Some days ago villagers had stopped the work saying that without full payment they will not allow NTPC to start its office here.
After this incident the officers of NTPC sat with the villagers and cleared everything assuring them that the company will pay full amount to them as per the RR policy of the State and the agreement with the villagers. On Tuesday, contractor Deepak Singh tried to start the work but some villagers came there and asked him to stop. Hot argument between contractor and villagers started there and in the meantime the son of contractor attacked Kamal Mahto with spade. The villagers suddenly got stunned with this attack and immediately carried away injured Kamal to the block hospital.
The news of this incident spread like fire in the area and villagers from adjoining areas too gathered near the site office. The villagers were angry on contractor and NTPC too. After getting this news local police team reached there to control the mob but soon they found themselves helpless against the angry mob. The local police officers tried to control the situation but the agitators were not ready to hear them and suddenly stone pelting started on both police and contractor’s men. Finally the police opened fire in which one person died and four got injured. The injured were referred to Hazaribagh Sadar Hospital.
At the time of filing of this report, the agitating villagers were on the spot with the dead body demanding the arrest of contractor, his son and the policemen who opened fire. The senior police officials of the district were camping there and with the help of local political and social activists attempts were going on to cool the situation. When contacted DIG Suman Gupta denied commenting anything. She said that after proper enquiry things will become clear. MP Yashwant Sinha who had to sit with the newsmen in a Press conference at Atal Bhavan, postponed his PC and rushed to the hospital to see the injured persons. After talking with them he instructed the hospital authorities to take proper care of them and rushed to Keredari with his party men.