Patna, (Bihar Times): Kahalgaon continued to simmer for the third day on Sunday with mob setting ablaze a Central Industrial Security Force jeep and abducting five of its personnel.

ADG (Headquarters) Abhayanand, Bhagalpur Commissioner, Hem Chand Sirohi, superintendent of police, J S Gangwar, all of whom are camping in Kahalgaon, later on Sunday night got these CISF personnel released.

However, Kahalgaon town has now started getting power, though many fear that it is only a short-lived phenomenon as once the top officials return the situation may once again turn bad. Their fear has some justification too as the NTPC is facing severe coal shortage following the rail-blockade carried out by the local citizens under the banner of Kahalgaon Nagrik Sangarsh Samiti. At present there is coal stock of only 24 hours and after that the plant will stop generating power.

Meanwhile, the 1,400 families living in the quarters within the NTPC premises have been facing acute shortage of milk, vegetables and other essential items for the last many days because of the agitation.

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