The two-member probe panel on the Gola firing incident headed by Hazaribagh Divisional Commissioner Dr Pradeep Kumar is ready with its report.The Government had given a week’s time to submit its report after the incident took place on August 30.
“We are ready with the report which is going to be submitted to the Home Department on Tuesday in a sealed cover. We have looked into the incident in a holistic manner, collected all the relevant evidences, recorded statements and have held the persons accountable for all that. The report would be a well directed one,” said Kumar on Monday.
Though he did not reveal anything about the content, insiders told The Pioneer that the report would nail the vested interests of some locals involved in keep flogging the issue time and again.
“The team has worked extensively at Gola and consulted with lots of locals and villagers. They have noticed about the role played by a local political leader and some of his associates who incited the matter for their personal gains. Since the issue was kept blowing out of proportion it vitiated the situation and led to a bloody clash,” said a senior official.
The incident which took place at Gola near the Inland Power plant site in Ramgarh district led to death of at least two villagers in the police firing. It is also learnt that the Divisional Commissioner report, DIG of the range is another member, has narrated about the frensied crowd gathered over there.
“The probe panel has also derived a conclusion that the mob that day at Gola was uncontrollable and resorted to attacking the police party present there. Other Government officials deputed there were also subjected to their brutalities and several of them had to suffer fatal injuries. The report suggests that opening fire by the police was the last resort and done in a circumstance when no other option was left,” noted the official.
The team following the incident visited Gola and plant site nearby very next day and consulted villagers affected by the power plant generating 63 MW electricity from its one operational unit. On its part, the team also sought for their side of story from the Inland Power management.
“They asked about what happened there that day and we explained everything. We also presented before the probe panel the 20-point charter of villagers’ demand and explained our position on those,” said company DGM Sanjay Singh.
Following the incident the plant has to suffer severe damage and forced to shut down operation a day after. Management of the company submits that it would take another 10-15 days to get the plant lit up once again which is not only depriving the State 63 MW of electricity everyday but causing huge financial dent to it.