Bokaro: Displaced families on Friday began an indefinite dharna outside the administrative building gate of Bokaro Steel Plant (BSL).Led by Gomti Devi, the protesters alleged that promises of a job and land made after the death of her son, Prem Prasad, in 2025 during an agitation at the same spot have not been fulfilled. Police and magistrates were deployed as the protest began.According to the protesters, the agitation is linked to an incident on April 3, 2025, when displaced youths were holding a peaceful protest near the plant. During the demonstration, they allegedly clashed with CISF personnel. In the course of the clash, a bamboo stick allegedly thrown by a CISF personnel hit Prem Prasad, after which he died. CISF personnel later resorted to a lathi charge to disperse the agitators, in which several people were injured. Prem Prasad’s death then triggered widespread anger among displaced families.Following the incident, a meeting was held on April 5, 2025, between district administration officials, local MPs and MLAs, and representatives of displaced groups. Phoolchand Mahto, one of the agitators, said, “During the talks, authorities reportedly assured a job for Prem Prasad’s kin within 15 days, allotment of 20 decimals of land for a memorial, and preparation of proposals to provide employment to around 1,500 apprentices within three months.”However, protesters alleged that none of the assurances have been implemented so far. They said the dharna would continue indefinitely until written commitments are given by the BSL management regarding their demands, including jobs for displaced apprentices and other rehabilitation measures.
