RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, Jan 19: PLFI extremists on Wednesday night set earth movers and other construction equipments on fire near Odaga railway station in Simdega district.
The incident took place when the extremists armed with fire weapons reached the site and went on a rampage threatening dire consequences in case of execution of work without their permission.
The extremists left the spot after leaving a pamphlet claiming responsibility for the incident. Police started a probe after the extremists left the spot.
Earlier on January 16, extremists had targeted a railway construction site at Kenduatand in Latehar where KEC Company is engaged in laying a third railway track.
The extremists, who claimed to have associated with the Jharkhand Prastuti Committee (JPC), threatened dire consequences in case of continuation of work without the permission of Tinku Ji.
Prior to this, on November 22 last year, extremists had set six pieces of construction equipment on fire and injured three site engineers by indiscriminately opening fire at Gujrati village in Latehar when work of laying a third track was going on.
Earlier, on October 21 last year, extremists injured three site engineers near Bridge No.173 at Chandwa under Latehar district in the same way. The incident had taken place in broad daylight.
IG (operation) and state police spokesperson AV Homkar could not be available for his comment on the matter, a police official, however, said the incidents are sporadic.
“Extremists in Jharkhand have almost finished. Sometimes they mark their presence by taking advantage of the forest and then get dispersed before security personnel engaged in anti-Naxal activities could target them. However, we do not take sporadic incidents lightly. It could be minimized if contractors involved in construction work inform us on time in case they receive any call for levy,” the police official, who did not want to be identified, said.
