A trade union leader was gunned down on Monday night in Ramgarh, 79km from the state capital, a month after another trade union leader was shot dead in the district in September.
Trade union leader Baleshwar Mahto, 55, was shot at close range once on the back around 9.15pm at Laio under West Bokaro thana area when he was returning home after aarti at a Puja pandal near his home, said a bystander, saying his family members heard the sound of the shot.
Mahto was first rushed to a private hospital, The Hope, from where he was referred to Ramgarh Sadar Hospital, where he was declared brought dead.
A well-known face in the area, Mahto had been associated with United Coal Workers’ Union, under All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC).
Though unconfirmed sources hinted the hand of Tritiya Prastuti Committee (TPC) in the murder, with two posters purported to be written by the banned outfit, claiming responsibility, police did not give any conclusive statement.
Subdivisional police officer (SDPO) of Ramgarh Radha Prem Kishore said the bullet entered Mahto’s back and exited through his chest. “Shooting was done from close range. We are waiting for the post-mortem report. It is too early to draw conclusions. We don’t even know now which weapon had been used in killing the trade union leader,” he said. Another police officer said seven suspects had been detained but no headway had been made yet.
But the source pointed out that earlier in 2012 too, TPC commander Bajirao Mahto had abducted trade union leader Mahto over some dispute related to illegal sale of coal.
A local said this September, general secretary of All India Jharkhand Shramik Union Satish Sinha was shot dead in Ramgarh. “Before police could get any clue in that murder, the second union leader, Baleshwar Mahto, was murdered on Monday. What is happening?” the resident said.
Contacted, AITUC general secretary P.K. Ganguly deplored the worsening law and order in Jharkhand. “Baleshwar’s murder case needs proper probe. If strong steps are not taken (to nab culprits in trade union leader murders), it will be difficult to raise our voice for the rights of labourers,” Ganguly said.
Mahto’s last rites were performed on Tuesday in the presence of over 1,000 supporters at Ramgarh Mukti Dham. The crime has cast a pall of gloom in the locality.