Ranchi: A day after a general manager of a mining firm engaged by the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) was shot dead by unknown assailants, the Hazaribag police on Wednesday formed a special investigation team (SIT) even as the accused continue to be at large.
Hazaribag superintendent of police Manoj Ratan Chothe said the nine-member SIT headed by sub divisional police officer of Barkagaon also has members of the technical cell.
“The SDPO would monitor the case investigation. We have some leads and are working on them. We are probing the case from all angles as far as possible motive behind the case is concerned,” said Chothe.
The SP said an FIR has been lodged as per the statement of the driver of the vehicle in which Sharad Kumar was shot dead. “The FIR has been registered under sections 302, 357, 333, 353 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and section 27 of the Arms Act,” the SP said.
Two bike-borne gunmen shot dead Kumar from a close range near Barkagaon Forest Guest House when he was travelling in his vehicle to a site office. Kumar’s bodyguard Rajendra Prasad, a jawan of Jharkhand police, was also injured in the attack.
While the police have refused to reveal the exact line of investigation, involvement of Maoist group for levy collection can’t be ruled out at this stage.
Ankit Gope, who introduced himself as spokesperson of PLFI, a splinter group, called a few media offices on Tuesday night and claimed responsibility for the crime.
“It has come to our knowledge as well. But we need to investigate the call records to authenticate it. That is why we are not ruling out any angel at this stage,” the SP said.
