New Delhi, April 28: After Ranchi, Bokaro and Jamshedpur, a court-authorised anti-encroachment drive at Matkoria under Kenduadih police station in Dhanbad turned ugly when thousands of persons started protesting the drive and clashed with the police resulting in four deaths and injuries to about 26 persons including cops.
In the clash six cops were injured while seven protesters who sustained bullet injuries were rushed to the Patliputra Medical College and Hospital (PMCH). Later four of the seriously injured were referred to the Bokaro General Hospital (BGH) at Bokaro.
The deceased persons were identified as Vikas Singh, Dinesh Handi, Dhananjay and Sanjay, sources said.
Protesting against the anti-encroachment drive angry residents on Wednesday set on fire a heap of debris and police vehicles and tyres on the road. They refused to evacuate the illegally occupied Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) quarters and demanded that they first be rehabilitated before being displaced. According to an eyewitness thousands of vegetable and fruit vendors, roadside dwellers, small shopkeepers and others took part in the protest.
“Irate protesters also set ablaze police vehicles”, the eyewitness added.
First the police used water cannons and lathis before opening fire in the air after crude bombs were hurled and gunshots were fired at them, allegedly by a protester.
Deputy Inspector General of Police Umesh Kumar Singh said the police had to open fire after being fired upon by the protesters during the clash. Dhanbad Superintendent of Police Ravi Kant Dhan and one DSP were also injured when protesters hurled stones on the police.
BCCL had served the notice on more than 1,100 persons who had allegedly encroached upon their land to vacate the area and Wednesday was the date for the eviction and demolition work.
Dhanbad MLA Mannan Mallick, Deputy Mayor Neeraj Singh and Sanjeev Singh, president of the Janata Mazdoor Sabha were arrested along with their protestors during the clash.
The protesters blocked the main roads and other important roads and also hurled stones at passersby and the police, resulting in traffic remaining paralysed for more than eight hours on NH 23.
During the ongoing anti-encroachment drive on the directive of the Jharkhand High Court, about 4,500 illegal structures have been demolished in Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Dhanbad and Bokaro in the last one month. The drive has left over 1 lakh persons homeless and more could be rendered so.
Five persons, four in Ranchi, one in Dhanbad and one in Bokaro have died of shock after they were served eviction notices.
Taking a tough stand the district administration imposed curfew in the Corporation area of Dhanbad till further orders.
Protesting the act Opposition parties including the JVM(P) have called for a bandh on Thursday.
Meanwhile the BJP and others parties alleged that Dhanbad MLA Mannan Mallick and the Congress were responsible for the violence. “Mannan Mallick stirred the protesters resulting in a clash with the cops”, added a BJP leader.
–Agencies–