SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, June 9: Three persons were killed and over dozen feared trapped during illegal mining in Bhowra Colliery Area of Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL), around 21 km away from here, on Friday morning.
The bodies have been identified as Jitendra ( 12), Madan (25) and Sikandar(22) . The family members of the victims laid seige to the Bhowra Area office of BCCL with bodies demanding proper compensation
Deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Sindri under which Bhowra area falls and Bhowra police station Inspector Binod Oraon said that the mines incident happened at around 10.30 am but the number of casualties and trapped persons could be said only after investigation and completion of the rescue operation.
An eye witness said countless local villagers were engaged in the illegal mining in the mines when the coal roof caved in. With the help of Basti residents three persons were dragged out from the debris and taken to a private hospital where doctors declared two of them brought dead.
Fearing police action. the family members took away the injured persons to private clinics in the area for treatment after the incident.
The people alleged that illegal mining was being done in collaboration with the local police and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) deployed in the region.
The coal company officials told media persons that the rescue operation in mines is under progress.
