Five labourers hurt in CISF firing at IOCL site

Tension gripped the project site of the Indian Oil Corporation Ltd’s (IOCL) oil refinery at Paradip when CISF (Central Industrial Security Forces) jawans opened fire, injuring five contract labourers of the project. Beside, 10 other labourers and four CISF jawans were injured in the scuffle between the two groups.

The clash, however, had no impact on the refinery's construction work.

Seven of the injured labourers, including five with gunshot injuries, have been shifted to the SCB Medical College and Hospital-Cuttack. One of the injured is stated to be in critical condition.

CISF jawans opened fire to contain the violence that erupted as a result of clash between the contract labourers engaged in loading and unloading of construction materials at gate-4 of the refinery project and the truck drivers. The labourers after receiving their daily wages demanded extortion money which was denied by the truck drivers. The CISF jawans protested this illegal collection of extortion money by the labourers, who tried to forcibly enter the plant site without gate pass.

Consequently, hundreds of labourers went on the rampage, ransacking CISF out post and dozens of vehicles. They also attacked and pelted stones at the CISF personnel. Irate labourers clashed with the CISF personnel and destroyed a rifle of one jawan after snatching it from him.

At first, the CISF jawans resorted to lathi charge to disperse the irate labourers. However, when baton charge failed, the CISF personnel opened fire. “Four platoons of police forces have been deployed to defuse tension at the project site,” said superintendent of police Vijaya Sahu.

Prasant Kumar Rout, chief manager, IOCL said, “Trouble began while labourers collected extortion from drivers during unloading of materials near gate-4. The clash has not affected the construction work of oil refinery project’.

Jayant Biswal, president of Maa Baidhee Shramik Sangh has condemned the opening of fire by CISF personnel and demanded an RDC (Revenue Divisional Commissioner) level probe into the incident.