The brutal murder of Kumar Gaurav, a 42-year-old Deputy General Manager (DGM) at NTPC’s Keredari coal mines project, has sent shockwaves through Jharkhand’s Hazaribagh district. On March 8, 2025, Gaurav was gunned down by two motorcycle-borne assailants near Fataha Chowk on the Hazaribag-Barkagaon road while heading to work. The attackers fired multiple shots, leaving him fatally wounded despite immediate medical attention. The incident has halted NTPC’s mining operations in the region, raising serious questions about industrial safety and law enforcement.

Jharkhand DGP Anurag Gupta, addressing the case, confirmed the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) under ASP Amit Kumar to unravel the mystery. “We’re investigating all angles and expect clarity within days,” Gupta said, noting confusion over an earlier related case. Seven individuals have been detained, and police are analyzing CCTV footage and Gaurav’s phone records. Empty 7.15-bore cartridges found at the scene suggest a planned attack, with speculation pointing to coal mafia involvement or mistaken identity—Gaurav was driving a vehicle typically used by another officer.

NTPC employees have launched a strike, demanding justice, while senior officials met Jharkhand’s Chief Secretary to press for enhanced security. Gaurav, a Nalanda native and nephew of a former MP, had no known enemies, according to family and colleagues. Yet, Hazaribagh’s history of coal-related violence—four mining officials killed in five years—fuels theories of organized crime targeting NTPC’s efforts to curb illegal activities.

Political pressure is mounting, with BJP’s Babulal Marandi blaming the Hemant Soren government for shielding coal theft. As the SIT intensifies raids, the murder underscores Jharkhand’s struggle with lawlessness and its impact on industrial growth.