Six vehicles, two machines torched in Latehar, probe on

Daltonganj: Unidentified people torched six vehicles and two drilling machines, which reportedly belonged to the Central Mine Planning and Design Institute (CMPDI), a subsidiary of Coal India Ltd, at Torisote in Latehar district on Saturday evening.

There was no leaflet or handwritten note left behind at the site which was usually done to claim responsibility and threaten the victims, Latehar SP, Kumar Gaurav said on Sunday. "An investigation has been initiated. A search operation is also underway. It is not yet clear which organisation has carried out the incident," he said.

"The CMPDI is surveying coal exploration which the residents are vehemently opposing. Moreover, the company started work two weeks ago without informing the local police station," the SP added.

A CMPDI official, on condition of anonymity, said, "The assailants asked the staff present on the spot to hand over their mobile phones and leave the premises. They then set ablaze two trucks and drilling machines of our department and four hired vehicles. The mobile phones were later on found dumped in a bag some distance away."