The Hazaribagh district police today refused to arrest opposition party leaders arguing the case against them was on despite the leaders having assembled in front of the Barkagaon police station to present themselves before the law makers.
Led by JVM(P) supremo Babulal Marandi, several opposition party leaders including former Union Minister Subodh Kant Sahay and Nirmala Devi, MLA from Barkagaon of Congress and state RJD Chief Gautam Sagar Rana along with supporters reached the Barkagaon police station premises as per schedule to give themselves up before the police.
They were protesting against the FIR registered against them by the officials of NTPC Coal Mining project, which is now declared prohibited area as the work for the coal mining by the thermal major have started on July 24 last.
The Barkagaon police, led by the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Pradeep Paul Kacchap refused to arrest them.
The leaders were protesting against lodging of the FIR by the NTPC management against them, Superintendent of Police, Bhimsen Tuti said.
The SP told newsmen that the Barkagaon Police are currently investigating the case against them to find out whether the charges levelled against them by the NTPC were true or not.
He said the police informed them that they should wait till August 10 when the police investigation is expected to be over.
Tuti said police will definitely take action against the leaders named in FIR, if they were found guilty after the investigation.
The leaders warned the administration and NTPC that if no discussions with the land losers took place they will have no alternative but to start indefinite stir from August 11.
