Two people were injured after a clash and an alleged bombing incident in Kesalpur under the Ramkanali police outpost area of Dhanbad on Thursday night, with police investigating whether a dispute between the former and current village heads led to the violence.
Baghmara SDPO Ajit Kumar Vimal said police were examining the village-head dispute angle. He also said there was no confirmed information so far about the use of bombs or firearms in the incident.
The injured were identified as Rohit Modak and Ram Mahto. Police reached the location after the clash and arranged medical treatment for the two men.
According to villagers, dozens of people allegedly carrying weapons were assaulting Modak near the Hanuman temple in Kesalpur. His friends and other residents reportedly rushed to the spot, after which the crowd grew. The alleged attackers then hurled bombs before fleeing, villagers claimed.
Residents also claimed that remnants of bombs were found at the site. These claims had not been independently established, and the police had not confirmed the use of explosives or firearms when the incident was reported.
The clash has also brought allegations linked to illegal coal mining and the transportation of illegally extracted coal into the police investigation. Villagers alleged that Modak was targeted because he opposed such activity. The allegation has not been independently established, and police have not publicly confirmed a connection between the incident and illegal coal operations.
The competing explanations under investigation point to the difficulty of establishing responsibility in a violent local dispute where multiple claims are circulating. Police are examining whether the conflict between the former and current village heads was the immediate trigger, while residents have raised a separate allegation involving coal extraction and transportation.
The incident also led to public anger in the area. Villagers later gathered at the Ramkanali police outpost and demanded strict action against those responsible. The police investigation is expected to establish the sequence of events, identify those involved in the assault and determine whether explosives or firearms were used.
