Angry over the death of a labourer on Thursday, villagers staged a dharna and closed all the gates, including the entrance of the township of the Tata Sponge Iron at Bileipada under Joda block of Keonjhar district on Thursday.
Notably, one Sushanta Naik (30) of Birikala village was engaged by a contractor of the company to clean the intake well meant for supply of water from Sona river to the Tata Sponge factory on Wednesday. He drowned while working and his body was recovered after some hours.
When the news surfaced, local people staged the agitation demanding compensation for the deceased’s family and job to his wife. The local police led by Barbil Additional SP Dilkip Sahani reached the spot to take control over the situation. later, a meeting was held among the villagers and company CFO SK Mishra. The villagers alleged that such incidents happen in the company at regular interval. They warned to continue their stir till their demand is fulfilled.