THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Ranchi, Jan 10: Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren today spoke to Ashok Singh, the father of Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Purushottam Kumar Singh, who was seriously injured in a violent clash between two groups in the Madhuban police station area of Dhanbad district on Thursday.
During a video call, the Chief Minister inquired about the SDPO’s treatment and assured the family of the government’s full support. He emphasised that the government would ensure proper medical care for the officer, including airlifting him to a better facility if necessary.
The SDPO is undergoing treatment in a hospital in Durgapur.
Soren reiterated the state government’s commitment to the safety of officers and employees across all levels. He announced that a detailed investigation into the violent incident has been ordered, and strict action will be taken against those found guilty.
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Government Committed to Safety of Officers
The Chief Minister emphasised the state’s zero-tolerance policy towards incidents that disrupt government work or harm government employees during the discharge of their duties. “Such incidents will not be tolerated. Strict action will be taken against the culprits,” he said.
Clash in Madhuban Police Station Area
The violent clash, which occurred over the construction of a boundary wall by an outsourcing company at the Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) Kharkhari Colliery, left SDPO Purushottam Kumar Singh seriously injured. The conflict escalated into a large-scale confrontation involving stone pelting, bombings, and firing, and even resulted in the torching of the party office of Giridih MP Chandra Prakash Choudhary.
The dispute reportedly began when Hiltop Outsourcing Company started building the boundary wall in the Babudih area. Local land losers (Raiyats) opposed the construction, demanding compensation and jobs, while another group supported the company’s actions, leading to rising tensions.
Violence Escalates: Stone Pelting, Bombings, and Arson
The situation spiralled out of control, with members of both groups resorting to violence. Several motorcycles were set on fire during the chaos.
SDPO Purushottam Kumar Singh, who arrived at the scene with a police team to control the violence, was struck on the forehead by a stone, sustaining serious injuries. Following his injury, the groups dispersed, and additional police forces from nearby stations were called in to restore order.
Protests and Arson at MP’s Office
Tensions further escalated after police arrested Karu Yadav, a local leader associated with the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM). Yadav’s supporters protested the arrest by pelting stones at the police.
In a dramatic turn, an angry mob set fire to the Kharkhari-based office of Giridih MP Chandra Prakash Choudhary, a member of the AJSU party. Notably, Choudhary had requested the outsourcing company to halt the boundary wall construction until the land losers’ demands were addressed. The contested area falls under his Giridih Lok Sabha constituency.
