An eminent social worker in Chandwa under latehar district Prahlad Sao was killed in broad daylight shootout in the busiest Chandwa market on Monday at 12 noon, said sources. Sources said the victim was rushed to Chandwa hospital where he was declared brought dead. Sao’s murder caused instant public fury as a strong mob of a few thousand of people jammed NH-75 and burnt down a JCB machine and a payloader. A police van of 407 type also bore the brunt of public fulmination as the mob turned against it smashing its windowpane. The mob pelted stones at policemen.
DIG of police Palamu Hemant Toppo has confirmed this entire episode. He said at 12 noon on Monday the victim was playing cards in his acquaintance’s shop of motor parts in Chandwa market when two youths riding a bike reached the shop, one got down and asked for some spare part and taking Prahlad Sao unmindful and unsuspecting took out the pistol and fired and the bullet hit the head of Sao, added the DIG
The DIG conceded that as the victim was very popular with the locals, hundreds of people descended on the streets of Chandwa and jammed the NH 75 and indulged in arson by setting afire a JCB machine and a payloader. The mob vented its ire by pelting stones at the police. Sources said a couple of policemen were hurt in stone pelting.
The DIG denied the police resorted to any firing in air. However some sources said shots were fired in air but it was not sure as to who fired the shot — anyone in the mob or the police — as the DIG reiterated there was no firing at all by the police in air. Incidentally, the DIG police Palamu Hemant Toppo stands transferred. In his place will be Saket K Singh in additional charge of this Palmu range along with his designation as SP STF Ranchi.
According to the DIG Toppo, the SP latehar Ajay linda rushed to Chandwa and mobilised his troops effectively and restored public order. The DIG said the SP linda held dialogues with the agitating people and the members of the bereaved family and assured to book the criminals.
On the motive the SP latehar Ajay Kinda said this man was raising voice against haphazard coal dumping here which was causing a cloud of dust over Chandwa and was posing too acute a health hazard to the residents and his killing could be the handiwork of any disgruntled coal operator. The killer appears to be hired and quite a professional one one said another source. The killers on bike went towards Kuru. linda said the situation in Chandwa is well under control.