Violence erupts in Bokaro over jobs at steel plant; police officer hurt

Bokaro – Tensions boiled over in Jharkhand’s Bokaro district on Wednesday when villagers protesting against a steel plant’s hiring practices clashed with police and company officials, leaving a senior police officer injured.

The confrontation occurred outside Vedanta Electrosteel in Chandankiyari block, where villagers have long demanded priority in jobs. They accuse the company of ignoring local youth and bringing in workers from outside.

Hundreds of residents from Chandaha, Siyaljory, Bhagabandh, and nearby villages gathered at Alkusha under the Jharkhand Shoshan Mukti Ulgulan Manch banner, blocking the main road for hours.

Siyaljory station in-charge Manish Kumar reached the spot with reinforcements and appealed to protesters to lift the blockade, promising talks with company management. Villagers, however, demanded immediate written assurances from plant officials.

The standoff quickly escalated into physical clashes. Police attempted to disperse the crowd with lathis, but violence broke out, and Kumar sustained a head injury. He was later rushed to hospital.

Additional forces have been stationed at sensitive points around the plant and nearby areas to prevent further violence. Though calm has been restored, anger simmers among locals.

This is the latest in a series of confrontations between villagers and the steel plant over employment opportunities, compensation, and unfulfilled promises from land acquisition deals.

With inputs from IANS