Armed Men Open Fire At Highway Project Site, Torch Vehicle In Lohardaga
Key Points:
- Security guard Shashi Bhushan Lakra shot by criminals, undergoing treatment at RIMS
- Attackers set a Hyva truck ablaze, another vehicle fire doused in time
- SP Sadiq Anwar Rizvi reaches spot with police team to investigate
LOHARDAGA – Two armed criminals created chaos late Thursday night at a bypass road construction site within the Lohardaga Sadar police station area, according to officials. The attackers shot a security guard before setting fire to a vehicle parked at the location.
Guard Shashi Bhushan Lakra was pulled out of a Hyva truck and shot by the assailants, officials said. He has since been referred to Ranchi’s Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences for treatment.
Meanwhile, the criminals set the Hyva vehicle on fire, causing significant damage. They also attempted to torch a second vehicle at the site, though workers managed to extinguish the flames before further damage occurred.
According to the site in-charge, two young men armed with small firearms arrived at the construction site during the incident. After shooting the guard, the attackers opened fire on other workers present, though the remaining staff managed to flee unharmed.
Superintendent of Police Sadiq Anwar Rizvi reached the spot along with a police team following the attack. Officers immediately began investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting and arson.
The targeted site forms part of an ongoing 19.5-kilometre bypass road project connecting Hirhi to Jogna in Lohardaga district. Officials noted that criminal elements appeared emboldened, carrying out the attack despite the presence of construction personnel at the site.
However, the site in-charge said no prior threats or warning notes had been received before the attack. Police recovered two empty cartridge cases from the scene during their initial examination.
Additional police personnel have since been deployed at the site as investigators continue examining the case. No arrests had been announced at the time of this report.
Naxal and criminal activity has periodically disrupted infrastructure projects in parts of rural Jharkhand, with contractors and workers frequently citing security concerns at remote construction sites.
