The Jharsuguda district administration on Sunday closed down the Renuka Coal Private (RCP), a coal transporting company, for five days and clamped Section 144 CrPC in the company premises to avoid any further disturbances.
On Saturday, two persons had died and 10 others sustained injuries when the police opened fire at a mob at Jorabaga under the Belpahar police station of Jharsuguda district to control a mob, mostly drivers of the company.
Hundreds of drivers, helpers and other related staff of the RCP under the MCl were on strike in support of their various demands disrupting coal transportation to different power plants.
It was alleged that the irate workers started pelting stones at the police and ransacked the RCP office. To control the mob, the police first made lathicharge and later opened fire.
“When the mob tried to set fire to eight police personnel taking shelter in a room, the police had to take such a drastic step in self-defence,” said the district SP in-charge, adding that six police personnel were also injured in the incident.