Dhanbad: A raid on suspected coal thieves at Chapapur open cast project of Eastern Coalfields Ltd (ECL) in Nirsa turned violent on Sunday after villagers alleged that security personnel assaulted a 70-year-old woman who had gone to a nearby forest to collect firewood.Angry villagers later attacked three vehicles belonging to the CISF quick response team (QRT) and ECL’s security personnel. They also allegedly held several security personnel captive.Locals said the CISF QRT and ECL security team reached Chapapur OCP after receiving information about large-scale coal theft. The suspected thieves reportedly fled after spotting the security personnel.Around the same time, Vimoli Hembram, a resident of Ramkanali Adivasi Tola, was on her way to the forest to collect dry wood. Villagers alleged that security personnel mistook her for a coal thief and questioned her. Her family said Hembram has hearing difficulties and could not respond properly. They alleged that she was abused and beaten.As news of the incident spread, hundreds of villagers gathered at the spot, armed with shovels, sticks and other implements, triggering a confrontation with the security teams.The group allegedly surrounded the personnel and vandalised three vehicles belonging to the CISF and ECL security teams. Several people were reportedly injured, including ECL security staffer Kajal Kumar Gorai and a CISF driver.Villagers accused security personnel of targeting poor residents instead of organised coal theft gangs. CISF officers declined to comment on the incident.
