Violence erupts in Jhk's Dhanbad as 'Khatal' operator killed inside his house

A 'Khatal' operator identified as Dhananjay Yadav (35) was brutally stabbed and shot dead by unknown criminals at his house in the presence of his wife and children at Singh Nagar under Jharia police station, about 11 km away, late at night on Monday.

A police official said the incident took place around midnight. Half a dozen criminals armed with sharp weapons and pistols attacked the house of Dhananjay Yadav. They first stabbed him with sharp weapons and later shot him to ensure his death. The criminals also burst hand grenades after killing Yadav. Police recovered one live grenade from the room.

The reason for the crime is said to be rivalry over illegal coal mining and coal collection in nearby mines. A bloody clash between the two groups also took place in January this year. After getting the information, Jharia police station in-charge Santosh Kumar Singh and Sindri SDPO Abhishek Kumar, under which the incident area falls, also reached the spot and conducted raids in Bastakola and Rajpura areas in search of the suspected killers.

Bhagwan Yadav, the victim's father, said that at midnight, the miscreants knocked on the door of his son's room around 12.30 am. When his daughter-in-law opened the door, they burst into the room. They first hit Dhananjay with sharp weapons in front of his two children and later shot him dead. They also detonated a grenade before fleeing.

Dhananjay Yadav is said to have been a supporter of former Jharia MLA Sanjiv Singh and his rival Rambabu Dhikkar is said to be an associate of former deputy mayor late Neeraj Singh. The two groups met in January this year.

Police officials said the raids are being carried out at places of suspected crimes. The body was sent to the Faculty Medical Hospital for an autopsy.

BJP state executive committee member and wife of former MLA Sanjiv Singh alleged that BJP supporters are being targeted for killing in Jharia as law and order has broken down in the region. It is unfortunate that the criminals shot him in the open in the house, she added.