4 dead in J’hand NTPC land stir

Four people were killed early on Saturday when police opened fire at villagers protesting against the acquisition of their land by the NTPC in Chirudih area of Jharkhand’s Hazaribagh district.

“Police resorted to firing after the protesters captured two of our men and assaulted them. A few of our officers suffered grievous injuries. Four protesters died in the incident,” said IG MS Bhatia, the police spokesperson.

The villagers have, however, claimed that the death toll was much higher than reported.

Police issued a statement saying Barkagaon MLA Nirmala Devi, her husband Yogendra Sahu and their supporters had been on dharna outside the Pakri-Barkagaon mining area from September 15, demanding that mining in the area be brought to a halt.

On Saturday morning, the administration reportedly sent magistrates and police personnel to the area in an attempt to “defuse” the situation. “The police arrested the MLA and were heading back to Dandikala village when their vehicle was stopped by a mob. Both the magistrates and the additional SP were in the next vehicle. The crowd forced them out and tried to take the officers with them,” police said. The District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) director was rescued by the police, but the additional SP and the Barkagaon circle officer were abducted and taken to adjoining fields where they were allegedly beaten till unconscious.

The SP and the deputy development commissioner — who were monitoring the development from Barkagaon police station — rushed reinforcements to the scene. “We warned the crowd, but they wouldn’t listen. They did not budge even when we used tear gas shells and rubber bullets. Finally, as a last resort, we opened fire in self-defence,” the police statement said.

Seven officers were injured in the incident. The additional SP and the circle officer, who are reportedly in a critical condition, have been flown to Ranchi for treatment.

Dr AK Singh of Sadar Hospital said they were treating six of the 15 injured, while nine have been referred to RIMS. “Two bodies have also been brought in for a post-mortem, while a third has been recovered by the police,” said Singh. A fourth body, he said, was still with the villagers.

Prohibitory orders have been clamped on Barkagaon to prevent further violence. Devi, who was freed from police custody by the villagers, is still at large.