What Happened When Criminals Opened Fire at a Road Construction Site in Jharkhand’s Palamu?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- One labourer injured in the shooting incident.
- Attack linked to possible extortion efforts.
- Rising violence against construction sites in Jharkhand.
- Police investigation includes reviewing CCTV footage.
- Urgent need for enhanced security measures.
Ranchi/Palamu, July 4 (NationPress) In the early hours of Friday, armed criminals unleashed gunfire at a four-lane road construction site located on National Highway-39 in Jharkhand's Palamu district, resulting in injuries to one labourer, officials reported.
The shocking incident occurred around 5:30 a.m. at the construction camp in Singra, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Sadar police station.
Authorities stated that the assailants arrived on a motorcycle and began firing at labourers who were resting in tents. A worker named Vikram Singh, hailing from Rajderwa village under Satbarwa police station, suffered a gunshot wound to his back and has since been admitted to a private hospital in Palamu for urgent medical care.
The sudden gunfire sparked chaos at the construction site. Upon notification, police and company officials quickly arrived to the scene and recovered bullet casings.
Initial investigations indicate that this attack may be associated with an extortion effort. However, it remains unclear if a criminal gang or a militant faction orchestrated the violence.
Police are currently reviewing CCTV footage from the vicinity to identify the perpetrators.
Road and railway construction sites, as well as companies involved in coal projects across Jharkhand, have faced a rising number of assaults from extremist and criminal entities. In the past three years, over 40 such incidents have been documented within the state.
On the night of June 23-24, armed assailants attacked a road construction company site in the Barkagaon police station area of Hazaribagh district, setting fire to two JCBs, two trucks, a grader, a water tanker, and a generator.
Earlier, on June 1, Maoists targeted the Keredari police station area of Hazaribagh, incinerating two vehicles belonging to BGR company involved in the KD coal project while firing multiple rounds. A youth was injured during this incident.
In another troubling case in Hazaribagh district, on the night of March 19-20, armed criminals assaulted the New Birsa project of Central Coalfields Limited (CCL), torching a payloader machine, damaging two others, and vandalizing three Hiva trucks. The attackers also discharged firearms to intimidate workers, resulting in injuries to a CCL employee.