SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Sept 24: The explosion of grenade and exchange of firing between villagers and alleged outsourcing company henchmen over employment to locals at Kankani Weighing House under Loyabad police station, around 16 km away from district headquarters, rocked the colliery on Friday afternoon.
A police official said the incident occurred around 1.30 pm. Police recovered five live hand grenades and two empty cartridges from the spot. Six persons were taken into custody for interrogation in this connection. No injury report of any person was reported in the explosion of grenades and exchange of firing.
Sensing apprehension of trouble heavy police force had been deployed in the colliery from the morning. But in the afternoon as the mining operation started both the groups engaged in the clash.
The Officer-in-charge of Loyabad police station Chunnu Murmu said that a group of local villagers and henchmen of Ramawatar Outsourcing Company clashed over closing and continuing mining operations. They exchanged firing and exploded hand grenades.
An eyewitness said villagers demanding jobs had come to get the operation of mining closed while henchmen of the outsourcing company were supporting the continuation of the operation.
“ Total eight hand grenades were used in which three exploded and police recovered five live from the spot. They also exchanged firing and two empty cartridges recovered,” said Chunnu Murmu. The police official said legal action is being taken against both groups.
A supporter of villagers’ group Vikash Singh alleged that outsourcing company manager Ramesh Singh and local MLA Dhulu Mahto got firing on villagers in front of the police officials.
“ A few days ago the outsourcing company had agreed to give jobs to local villagers but today its henchmen attacked them,” said Vikash Singh.
