Ranchi, April 27: Two people were killed in police firing and more than 25, including a senior police officer, were injured in clashes between anti-demolition protesters and the police in Jharkhand’s Dhanbad, police here said.
Vikash Singh and Dinesh Handi were killed in police firing and at least 13 people sustained bullet injuries, according to police.
Police said they opened fire after the protesters — opposing ongoing demolitions in various parts of the state under a high court directive — turned violent.
The trouble began at Matkuria locality of Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BBCL) in Dhanbad. Around 1,100 people living on the BCCL land illegally were served notice in the past to vacate the place.
Thousands of people gathered at the place to protest the demolitions. The protesters started pelting stones at the policemen. Police opened fire after the crowd refused to disperse, police said.
Dhanbad Superintendent of Police R.K. Dhan and seven other policemen were injured, a police official said.
In Ranchi, Chief Minister Arjun Munda held a high level meeting attended by the state police chief, G.S. Rath, and others.
Munda has ordered a probe in the incident.
The opposition Congress and other parties have condemned the firing.
“The state government is adopting inhuman attitude in the demolition drive,” Shailesh Sinha, Jharkhand Congress spokesperson, told IANS.
Over the last 45 days more than 5,000 illegal structures have been demolished in Jharkhand under a directive from the high court, affecting more than 120,000 people.
The court has rejected a government plea to stay the demolitions.
Five people, four in Ranchi and one in Dhanbad, have died of shock after they were served eviction notice.
Two people were killed in police firing in Ranchi early this month during anti-demolition protests.
—-IANS—-