Unidentified persons on Sunday hurled a bomb at the house of a close associate of Baghmara MLA Dhullu Mahto in Nichitpur area around 6am. No one was injured in the incident.

Dhullu, who reached the incident spot soon after, protested the attack on Rajesh Gupta’s house. He demonstrated at the Katras police station.

Dhullu ended the sit-in after the arrival of Baghmara DSP Nitin Khadelwal, who assured the MLA of swift action.

This was the second attack on Gupta’s house. On September 13 around 10.30pm, unidentified persons fired at the house, following which police found some empty bullet shells.

Later, Dhullu claimed that the attack had been carried out at the instance of Congress leader and former water resources minister Jaleshwar Mahto.

“The police have assured me that those behind the incident will be arrested within three days. We will resume our agitation if the police fail to arrest Mahto soon,” said Dhullu.

Gupta is a coal trader and considered close to Dhullu. The police had lodged a case against Dhullu and five others for releasing Gupta (who had been accused of extortion) from police custody in Nichitpur area on May 12, 2013.

Dhanbad MP P.N. Singh along with more than 50 party workers also demonstrated at Randhir Verma Chowk near the district headquarters in Dhanbad against deteriorating law and order in the state, including in the town, under chief minister Hemant Soren.

Singh said that incidents of rape have increased. “While looting, burglary, dacoity, robbery and snatching have increased manifold in the state due to unemployment, the government is busy fighting the Centre,” said Singh.