Protest demanding jobs at Bokaro Steel Plant turns violent, youth killed

Officials said Mahto’s family will be compensated with Rs 20 lakh.

Bokaro Deputy Commissioner Vijaya Jadhav said that a three-member inquiry committee had been formed to investigate the issue, and an order had been issued to arrest the BSL’s chief general manager.

Sahdev Sao, a part of the protest, informed that hundreds of youths from Visthapit Apprentice Sangh (VAS) were officially promised jobs. “However, the youths are only asked to wait – they have been waiting for so many years. In 1967-68, the plant was established, acquiring 34,000 acres of our land with 20,000 employment promises,” he said.

“We started demanding jobs in 2016 when we breached the canal as protest. And 52 others were arrested for seven months,” said Sao.

Another displaced youth, on condition of anonymity, said that in 2016, the government identified 4,328 displaced youths to provide jobs, and those above 45 were promised facilities to run shops.

“After that, just 1,500 youths were offered apprenticeships between 2016 and 2022 in different phases. Gradually, the number of recruits in each phase was reduced,” he said.

In February, an official meeting was held between officials and the youths. But with no forward movement, the youths decided to sit in protest with their family members on April 3.