SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Jan 22: More than a dozen engineers and miners of Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) were injured in a violent clash with alleged goons of an outsourcing company at the Jina Gora Project of the Lodna Colliery Area, under Tisra police station, about 15 km from the district headquarters, on Thursday morning.
All injured BCCL officers and workers were admitted to the BCCL Central Hospital. The general manager of the outsourcing company, Shitla Singh, was also injured in the incident.
No Police Complaint Filed Till Evening
Till Thursday evening, neither side had lodged a police complaint regarding the clash.
Tisra police station officer-in-charge Suman Kumar and Jorapokhar circle inspector Ashutosh Kumar, along with police personnel, reached the colliery and brought the situation under control. By the time police arrived, the alleged assailants had fled the spot.
Police officials said that those found guilty will be arrested after a proper investigation.
Dispute Over Road Cutting Triggers Violence
The clash reportedly occurred around 9 am. Two projects operate in the colliery—the NT ST Project, run by BCCL, and another project operated by the outsourcing company Dev Prabha under the MDO system.
On Wednesday night, unidentified persons allegedly cut the approach road of the NT ST Project, disrupting coal mining and transportation. Angered by the act, BCCL officers and miners blocked the Tisra–Baliapur road in protest.
Allegations and Counter-Allegations
The protesting BCCL officers and workers alleged that the outsourcing company deliberately cut the road to halt mining operations of the BCCL project and grab the mining area.
It is further alleged that during the protest, BCCL personnel attacked outsourcing company GM Shitla Singh, seriously injuring him.
According to allegations, the outsourcing company’s goons later reached the site in the afternoon and assaulted BCCL officers and miners in retaliation, leading to multiple injuries.
Following the violence, a heavy police force was deployed at the site to prevent further escalation. The situation remains tense but under control.