Hazaribagh: Armed members of the banned extremist group Tritiya Sammelan Prastuti Committee (TSPC) attacked a mining site in Jharkhand’s Hazaribagh district late Sunday night, torching two vehicles belonging to BGR Mining Company and firing indiscriminately, officials said on Monday. One youth was injured in the firing.
The incident took place near Pagar-Pandu village under the Keredari police station area. BGR Mining is engaged in coal extraction work under the Khalari-Dakra (KD) project of Central Coalfields Limited (CCL).
According to eyewitnesses, the attackers arrived as part of an armed squad, opened fire, and set the parked vehicles on fire before fleeing into the nearby forest.
A youth caught in the gunfire sustained injuries and was taken to the hospital. His condition is reported to be stable.
Security personnel recovered a pamphlet from the scene, allegedly issued by TSPC’s sub-zonal commander Kaushal. The leaflet warned companies like NTPC, CCL, L&T, and other contractors not to begin work without prior permission from the group and threatened stricter action if their warning is ignored.
The TSPC claimed in the note that it was working to protect the interests of local tribal communities and the general population. It accused the government of harassing innocent villagers under the guise of anti-Maoist operations and described its own actions as a fight against exploitation.
Following the attack, a police team led by Pagar outpost in-charge Vicky Thakur reached the site and launched a search operation. Patrolling has been intensified, and several suspects are being questioned as part of the ongoing investigation.
The attack has caused concern among workers involved in mining operations in the Keredari area and surrounding regions.
This incident adds to a series of similar attacks in recent weeks. In early May, Maoists set fire to six vehicles and two excavators at a mining site in Latehar district. Just last week, members of the People’s Liberation Front of India (PLFI) torched two vehicles, including a road roller, at a road construction site in Khunti district’s Rania area.
With inputs from IANS