The Telegraph reported that a verbal duel between TATA Steel security guards and contract workers over taking bicycles inside company premises snowballed into an ugly stone versus bullet war, triggering rampage and arson and leaving nine persons injured at Burmamines on Monday morning.
The incident, a grim reminder of a similar clash two years ago, saw two separate FIRs being lodged at Burmamines police station in the evening. While workers lodged one against TATA Steel security guards, the management filed another against workers for vandalising company property.
According to eyewitnesses, trouble started at 7.30AM, when some 8,000 contract workers queued up outside the HSM Gate of TATA Steel to punch their ID cards for attendance. Security guards reminded the workers of a recent company rule and asked them to leave their cycles at a designated parking lot 2km away and take the bus for employees to work.
This triggered a heated debate. Workers argued that the trip from and to HSM Gate would take at least half an hour and, if they did not punch in by 8.15am, they would be marked absent. But, the security guards allegedly remained adamant, prompting angry workers to pelt stones at them.Three of the guards were injured in the attack. Clearly outnumbered, the remaining 37 bewildered guards opened fire in retaliation. While nine rounds were released in the air, five more were directed at the workers. Five contract employees and a photographer of a local vernacular daily sustained splinter injuries.
Incensed by the firing, the mob went on the rampage. The workers damaged four radio frequency identification devices, three cars and a carrier. They also torched nearly a dozen two wheelers and 20 bicycles parked near the gate. The chaos and arson continued for more than an hour before police intervened.
TATA Steel VP Mr Sanjiv Paul admitted that firing on workers was a wrong decision, but hinted that vested interests among workers were at work. He said “We had issued a circular prohibiting use of bicycles inside premises to prevent mishaps. However, the firing should not have happened. We have started an internal inquiry and action will be taken against the guilty. For now, we will allow cycles inside the company premises till further orders. Suitable compensation will also be given to those injured.”
He added that production had not been affected because of the clash.
