Bokaro CCL Coal Siding Violence: Man Killed in Clash, Locals Demand Compensation

Bokaro: Tension gripped a coal siding of Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) in Giridih district throughout Wednesday after a 42-year-old man was killed in an alleged clash between CCL employees and coal thieves the previous night.Dilip Das, a resident of Khadiha under Mufassil police station limits, was stabbed in the clash in which several CCL workers were injured. He died hours later of his injuries. More than 300 coal thieves clashed with CCL workers at the CP Siding of CCL. A policeman was also injured in the incident. An FIR was registered in this connection.Locals marched with the body of Das to the CCL mines and demanded Rs 50 lakh in compensation, a job for one of his family members and registration of a murder case. The protest soon turned aggressive and stone pelting broke out. Police resorted to mild baton-charge to disperse the agitators.Giridih sub-divisional officer Shrikant Y Vispute claimed Das had been jailed two months ago in a coal theft case. “He had come out on bail four days ago. Today, more than 100 residents entered the area and went on a rampage. However, police present in the area controlled the situation,” he said.Family members of Das blamed CCL for his death. “He had gone out in the evening and was attacked near the CCL CP Siding. They surrounded him and killed him,” one of his relatives claimed.CCL officials and security personnel claimed on Tuesday night, coal thieves had stopped coal vehicles and attacked the PSU personnel who arrived at the scene. “We were beaten and vehicles were damaged. We did not use any knife.” Guards also claimed that several of them sustained injuries during the attack.SDM said “The situation is under control, and we are keeping a close watch.” Meanwhile, efforts to defuse tensions are ongoing. A meeting is being held at the CCL Giridih colliery general manager’s office, involving company officials, police authorities and representatives of political parties and labour unions.