At least five workers were injured, one of them receiving gunshot injuries, and two security guards were seriously injured as two groups clashed in the Tata Steel plant premises at Kalinganagar in Jajpur district on Monday.
“Many workers demanded payment of overtime dues from the company officials as they worked four hours excess of the normal working hours for the last two months. As the officials refused to give them overtime, workers went berserk. Security personnel used lathicharge and then opened fire to disperse them,” said Kalinganagar ASP Pradipta Kumar Sahani.
He informed that that one of the workers, identified as Maheswar Patra of Jaleswar in Baleswar district, received gunshot injuries. Maheswar was first rushed to Danagadi Government Hospital and later shifted to the SCB Medical College Hospital in Cuttack as his condition worsened.
Two security guards, Ramesh Chandra Swain (46) of Banta village and Suklal Sundi (40) of Champua, sustained serious injuries and have been admitted in the SCB Medical College Hospital in Cuttack, the ASP informed. Four other workers were also grievously injured in the scuffle. They have also been admitted in a hospital for treatment.