Nine injured as labourers clash with Tata Steel guards

Nine people, including a photo journalist, were injured during a clash between contract labourers and security guards at Tata Steel, who opened fire at the agitated workers here on Monday.

The trouble started when the security guards, in accordance with a new company circular, asked the labourers to board company buses instead of riding bicycles to the site, which the labourers resisted. A senior government official said that five labourers and a press photographer suffered splinter injuries when the security guards, who were posted at the gate, fired.

Three of the guards were wounded when labourers threw stones during the clash, Sub-divisional Officer Subodh Kumar told reporters.

All of them have been admitted to Tata Main Hospital, he said. The photographer was identified as Madan Sahu. He suffered injuries in the stomach.

Vice-President (corporate communication) of Tata Steel Sanjiv Paul described the incident as "unfortunate" and said a probe had been ordered into the incident.