NTPC Razes Former Minister’s House in Heated Jharkhand Land Dispute

A heavy police presence facilitated the Thursday demolition of former Jharkhand minister Yogendra Saw’s house in Jordaag village, Hazaribagh’s Kerudari block, as NTPC enforced its stance in a bitter compensation dispute linked to Chatti Bariatu coal project growth.

Days of dharna by Saw, accompanied by wife and ex-MLA Nirmala Devi, highlighted demands for better land remuneration. Officials note the sum was fixed, refused by Saw, and thus tribunal-bound, yet the occupation delayed key infrastructure.

Failed negotiations led to this forceful clearance, executed via three poclains under administrative and NTPC oversight. Law enforcement ensured a peaceful, if tense, execution.

Political tempers flare post-operation. Amba Prasad, Saw’s daughter and former Barkagaon MLA, condemned it online as state oppression, vowing courtroom confrontation and judicial faith. The episode amplifies concerns over equitable land policies in Jharkhand’s mining heartland, setting the stage for prolonged contention between development imperatives and citizen protections.