2 killed as agitation turns violent in Jharkhand, govt orders probe

Ramgarh (Jharkhand), Aug 30: Two persons were killed and at least 24 persons injured when an agitation by villagers, protesting against non-granting of displacement benefits by a private sector power plant, turned violent in Gola block of Ramgarh district, prompting police to open fire.

Among those injured in the incident yesterday were district officials and several policemen. The villagers allegedly targeted the water supply system located in Senegarh river and the district officials, who were on the spot, forcing the police to open fire to disperse the mob, police said.

Officials said one person was killed in the police firing and another died in the stampede-like situation. Superintendent of Police M Tamilvanan said the protestors attacked district officials, including the Deputy Collector Land Reform (DCLR) Gorang Mahto and Block Development Officer Dinesh Prasad Surin.

At least two dozen people were injured in the stampede-like situation after the police firing, he said. While some of the injured policemen were admitted to local hospitals, others were referred to the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences in Ranchi.

After the firing incident, villagers torched official vehicles and blocked the Ranchi-Sikidiri and Gola road. A generator of the water supply system was put on fire and a vehicle of Gola block was also set ablaze. Additional security forces were deployed following the violence, police said.

Chief Minister Raghubar Das had yesterday ordered a probe into the firing incident by Hazaribagh Commissioner and deputy inspector general of police, asking them to give a report within a week, official sources said.

Prohibitory orders under section 144 CrPC have been clamped near the plant.

PTI