Kumar Gaurav, a 42-year-old NTPC official, was shot dead by two motorcycle-borne gunmen in Jharkhand’s Hazaribagh district on Saturday, according to the police. He was posted as Deputy General Manager (Dispatch) at NTPC’s Keredari coal mines project. Arvind Kumar Singh, Superintendent of Police (SP) in Hazaribagh, said that six people have been detained so far for interrogation.
According to the SP, the incident took place around 9:30 AM near Fatah More, under the Katkamdag Police Station limits, when the gunmen intercepted his car and fired at him. He further stated that Gaurav was on his way to the coal mine site from his quarters in Hazaribagh town. However, in a strange turn of events, the driver of the car, in which Gaurav was traveling, was found missing after the incident.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been established to further investigate the incident, which is led by Barkagaon Sub-Divisional Police Officer Pawan Kumar. A search operation has also been initiated to arrest those involved in the murder
In response to the tragedy, Jharkhand BJP president and Leader of Opposition in the state assembly, Babulal Marandi, condemned the incident and called for immediate action from the state’s Director General of Police (DGP). He urged authorities to ensure the safety of NTPC officials, staffers, and other individuals working in the coal mine areas.
“I am shocked by the incident of shooting and killing of DGM Gaurav Kumar of NTPC coal project in Hazaribagh,” Marandi said in a post on social media platform X. He further criticised the state government, stating that despite prior incidents, such as an attack on a coal trader in Ranchi on the same day, police had not maintained adequate vigilance.
“Ultimately, the criminals ended the life of a promising officer. The confidence of criminals has increased during the rule of the Hemant Soren-led coalition regime,” he alleged.
The BJP leader also claimed, “In Jharkhand, thousands of trucks of coal are being stolen every day from Dhanbad, Bokaro, Ramgarh, Hazaribagh, and Chatra under the protection of the government machinery, and the money amassed from such theft is being distributed from top to bottom. If this theft is not stopped, lives will continue to be lost like this.”
(With PTI Inputs)