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A National Thermal Power Corporation official was shot dead in Jharkhand’s Hazaribagh on Saturday (March 8, 2025). Kumar Gaurav, Deputy General Manager (DGM- Dispatch), NTPC, deputed at Keredari coal mine, was on his way to work when two unidentified people opened fire at him.

Mr. Gaurav sustained a bullet injury in his back and was rushed to hospital, where doctors declared him dead. He was a resident of Nalanda district of Bihar.

The incident took place under Katkamdag police station limits at 9.30 a.m. The police have intensified raids to nab the criminals.

According to local residents, the criminals followed him and shot him in the back. He collapsed on the spot after which the locals took him to the hospital.

There is panic among NTPC officials as well as people in the surrounding areas as many NTPC projects are underway in Barkagaon and Keredari areas. Hazaribagh Superintendent of Police (SP) Arvind Kumar Singh told the media that raids are being conducted to nab the criminals and that they would be arrested soon.

Later, many senior NTPC officials reached the hospital. Mr. Gaurav is survived by his mother, wife and his 10-year-old daughter.

NTPC officials in fear

Previously, too, officials of NTPC and its associate companies have been attacked. So far, three officials associated with the Keredari coal project have been killed.

Patrolling has been intensified in the area to nab the criminals. The officials engaged in the project have demanded immediate arrest of the criminals so that they can work without fear.

Leader of the Opposition Babulal Marandi blamed the State government, led by Chief Minister Hemant Soren, over the incident alleging that it happened due to rampant illegal coal mining in the State.

“Chief Minister Hemant Soren has started a bloody conflict in the coal business by inciting the criminals. Who knows how many innocent people would be killed by the government in the coal business?” Mr. Marandi said.

The BJP leader said, “Thousands of coal-loaded trucks are being stolen every day from the areas of Dhanbad, Bokaro, Ramgarh, Hazaribagh, Chatra under the protection of the government system. The money recovered from this is being distributed from the top to the bottom. If this theft is not stopped, then murders will happen every day, innocent people will keep losing their lives.”

He asked the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) government to first stop the theft of coal and form a Special Investigative Team (SIT) led by an honest officer to nab the criminals.