A security guard was critically injured after three motorcycle-borne assailants allegedly opened fire at the New Birsa open-cast coal mining project site in Hazaribag early Tuesday, police said. The attack took place at the main gate of the outsourcing company’s project site while the guard was on duty.
Vivek Kumar Ojha, an employee of outsourcing firm Sainik, sustained five bullet injuries in the firing, according to police. He suffered three injuries in the abdomen and one each in the arm and leg. Ojha was taken to the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences in Ranchi, where his condition was reported to be critical.
Rathu Oraon, officer in charge of the Urimari police outpost, said the masked attackers arrived on motorcycles, fired multiple rounds at Ojha and fled from the site. Police said seven empty cartridges were recovered from the scene.
“Preliminary investigation suggests that the three criminals were linked to the Rahul Dubey gang. Efforts are under way to identify and arrest the accused,” Oraon said. The police statement described the gang link as part of the preliminary investigation, and no arrests were reported in the supplied account.
The shooting occurred at a coal mining project site where outsourced security personnel were deployed to protect the company’s operations and premises. The attack has raised an immediate safety concern for workers and security staff at the New Birsa open-cast project, although the supplied report does not provide details of any work stoppage or broader operational disruption.
An FIR was lodged after the management and security officials of the outsourcing firm submitted a written complaint. Police registered the case under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Arms Act.
Investigators are now working to identify the masked assailants and establish the circumstances of the attack. Police said efforts were under way to trace and arrest those responsible.
