6 migrant labourers shot dead in Bihar

Six labourers from Rajasthan were shot dead in the Bhojpur district at Bihar on Sunday night allegedly by the Ranvir Sena. The police said that heavily armed assailants stormed a makeshift camp of labourers at Diliyanka village and killed the six on the spot.

Jharkhand Naxal stir

RANCHI: Stray incidents of violence here marked the first day on Monday of the three-day blockade called by Maoist Communist Centre and People’s War Group to protest against POTA. The first incident occurred on NH 32 near Bundu police station in the wee hours on Monday morning when Naxalites reportedly fired at a milk tanker. Two General Railway Police Force jawans piloting a train at Kumundi station in Latewhar were shot at. (ENS)

The labourers were working on the construction and repair of the Sone Canal in the area. The project was supposed to be completed by May 30 but has now run into trouble. The repair work is being done by two contractors. One contractor had allegedly received a threat note from the Ranvir Sena.

According to reports, the Ranvir Sena had asked for protection money — rangdari tax — from one of the two contractors and had also threatened him.

District Magistrate Sanjay Kumar told mediapersons that nothing could be ruled out at this stage. ‘‘It appears the main reason was to get the work stopped. We are exploring all the alternatives and the possibility of the Ranvir Sena involvement can’t be ruled out.’’

According to the police, raids have started in Bhojpur to catch the killers. Senior police officials, including the superintendent of police in Bhojpur, are camping at the spot. Excise Minister Shivanand Tiwari has announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 1 lakh to the next of kin of each of the deceased.