Two killed in police firing in Jharkhand

Ranchi, Aug 29 (IANS) Police said one person was killed in firing on protesting villagers in Jharkhand's Ramgarh district on Monday, but according to sources two people may have been killed.

The incident took place at Inland Power's plant situated at Gola in Ramgarh as villagers were protesting against displacement. The management of the plant had called the villagers for talks on Monday.

"One group went for talks with Inland Power authorities and the second group was involved in ransacking. Villagers pelted stones at the police in which seven policemen were injured. The police retaliated by firing killing one villager. A probe has been ordered into the incident. Hazaribagh Commissioner and Deputy Inspector General of Police will probe the incident," Jharkhand police chief D.K. pandey told IANS.

Sources in police however confirmed the death of two people.

After the firing, villagers torched official vehicles and blocked the Ranchi-Sikidiri and Gola road. The situation is tense and additional forces have been rushed to the spot.

Inland Power is an arm of Inland World Logistics and its project involves installing two 63 MW coal-based thermal power plants near Gola.

The first phase of the 63-MW plant has already been commissioned and began generating power from May 2014. The second unit is scheduled to be commissioned by 2017.