Two injured policemen — Havildar Mahendra Kumar Dubey and Akhilesh Kumar of JAP-8 Lesliganj — were admitted to MMCH for treatment, while others received medical aid at the spot. Police have detained 11 villagers, including eight women, in connection with the incident.
According to reports, the villagers had been protesting against the mining project for a long time. As officials and workers reached the site for the opening ceremony, the villagers ambushed them and attacked with traditional weapons and stones.
Those injured include ASI Sachidanand Sharma of Lesliganj police station, Sudhir Singh of Satbarwa, and others. Following the incident, a large police force was deployed at the site, and a temporary police camp has been established in the mining area.
The inauguration of the mine was later completed under heavy police security. Roads and related infrastructure work at the site have begun, and mining operations are expected to start soon.
Present at the spot were trainee IAS officer Himanshu Lal, Lesliganj SDPO Manoj Jha, trainee DSPs Rajiv Ranjan and Rajesh Yadav, and Lesliganj police station in-charge Utam Kumar Rai. Magistrates Sanjeet Kumar and Rajan Kumar Singh were also on duty.
The stone mine lease for Rewaratu area was granted to Shri Vinayak Construction in 2024. Though some villagers had challenged the lease in the Jharkhand High Court, the petition was dismissed. Despite this, protests have continued at the local level.
While a section of villagers hopes the project will bring employment and development to the area, others accuse the administration of proceeding without proper consultation. Police officials have warned of strict action against anyone disturbing law and order, and the situation is currently reported to be under control.
