Barely three weeks after violence erupted in Ranchi during anti-demolition drive and claimed three lives,three persons were killed and 23 injured in Dhanbad when protesters pelted stones and torched vehicles leading to lathicharge and firing by police Wednesday. Among the injured undergoing treatment at various hospitals were Constable Suresh Singh and SP Ravi Kant Dhan. A stone hit Dhan on his head. He is conscious and stable, said the police. DIG Umesh Kumar Singh said the police had to open fire after being fired upon by protesters. They also exploded bombs and pelted stones, he alleged. The protestors had staged demonstrations at various places to resist the demolition drive undertaken by Bharat Coking Coal Ltd (BCCL),a PSU whose 150 acres of land had been encroached upon by setting up 20,000 huts and shops. Curfew has been imposed in Dhanbad.
