3 killed, 200 hurt in Bihar police firing

KAHALGAON (BIHAR): Three people were killed and over 200 injured when police fired to quell a 5,000-strong unarmed mob agitating against the grim power scenario in Bhagalpur, Bihar, on Friday. Some cops were also injured in the violence that continued for over five hours.
People under the banner of Kahalgaon Nagrik Sangharsh Samiti blocked the main gate of NTPC plant here and disrupted rail services between Lalmatia and Kahalgaon to stop coal supply to the plant.Samiti chief Sunil Paswan alleged NTPC had failed to keep its word on supplying power to areas within 8-km radius of the plant. "We stopped coal and water supply to the plant to pressure the state government and the Centre so that they realise the gravity of the situation."
He alleged that before the NTPC management could initiate some corrective measures, a police officer, Birendra Narain Jha, ordered lathicharge on the mob.
Later, the police lobbed teargas shells and opened indiscriminate fire in which three people were killed. "The toll might rise," Paswan said. Later, Bhagalpur DM Vipin Kumar said one person died in the police firing while two others suffered serious injuries.