At least two protesters were killed and several others injured after the Jharkhand Police opened fire on a group of displaced villagers who were agitating outside the gate of a thermal power plant and demanding jobs, near the state's Ramgarh district. Restrictions under Section 144, which prohibits the assembly of more then 10 people in an area, were imposed, and Chief Minister Raghubar Das ordered an investigation, The Telegraph reported.
Acting deputy commissioner of Ramgarh Sunil Kumar said police were forced to fire after the protest turned violent, and the mob pelted stones at them. They also damaged company property, he added. Villagers claim four people were killed. Three injured protesters were admitted to Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences in Ranchi, 70 km from the power plant.
Officials said a delegation of 10 villagers, whose agitation was led by the Nagrik Chetna Manch, were inside the complex for talks to negotiate jobs for those displaced. The mob outside allegedly started protest louder, wanting to be part of the negotiations.
Calcutta-based Inland Power had set up the 63-megawatt plant in the Gola block in May 2014 and has acquired 80 more acres to establish a second one of the same capacity with a Rs-100 crore investment.
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