Five killed in Jharkhand over sand mining dispute (Lead)

Ranchi May 19 (IANS) Five persons were killed over a sand mining dispute in Jharkhand s Garhwa district on Friday.

Sanjit Singh who has been awarded the sand mining contract allegedly opened fire at the villagers who were opposing the sand mining in Jatpura village in Garhwa district on Friday according to the police.

In the firing three members of a family were killed and one sustained bullet injuries.

The irate villagers then set afire seven trucks used to transport sand and killed two munsis (supervisors) of the contractor. Contractor Sanjit Singh managed to escape.

Senior police officers reached the village following the incident. Minor clashes between police and the angry villagers also took place.

According to the police the villagers were opposing sand mining for a long time as the sand mining area was being used by them to cremate the bodies. They had also complained against it to local administration.

--IANS
ns/vgu/vt