New Delhi: A police operation against drunk driving in Jharkhand’s Dhanbad district turned violent on Sunday evening after a patrol team was allegedly attacked with stones and crude bombs by a group of miscreants in the Jharia area.
The incident took place near Katras More, where police were carrying out a drive against drunk driving and public drinking. Officials said the patrol team reached a liquor outlet and found several people allegedly consuming alcohol in the open. When the officers asked them to leave the area, some individuals reportedly objected, leading to a confrontation.
As tensions escalated, a group of anti-social elements allegedly began pelting stones at the police vehicle. The violence intensified when two crude country-made bombs, locally known as ‘sutli bombs’, were allegedly thrown at the police team, causing loud explosions that sent shockwaves through the locality.
The attack created panic among residents, with many shopkeepers hurriedly pulling down their shutters and passersby fleeing the area to avoid being caught in the violence.
Additional police personnel from Jharia Police Station and neighbouring police stations rushed to the spot soon after the incident was reported. The area was secured, and the law and order situation was brought under control.
To reassure the public and prevent any further unrest, security forces conducted a flag march from Katras More to Singh Nagar. Police also intensified night patrols and deployed additional personnel across the area as a precautionary measure.
Investigators have begun collecting evidence and are scanning CCTV footage from nearby locations to identify those involved in the attack. Raids are expected to be conducted to apprehend the accused.
Police officials said normalcy has been restored and warned that strict action would be taken against all those responsible for attacking law enforcement personnel and disturbing public peace. Residents have been urged to cooperate with the investigation and help maintain communal harmony and order.
With inputs from IANS