Two killed in violent clash at Vedanta Alumina plant in Odisha

Lanjigarh: The vicinity of Vedanta Alumina here turned into a battle ground when the security guards of the factory resorted to lathi-charge to disperse the factory's labourers who had staged an agitation demanding jobs for locals today. At least two persons including a security personnel of Odisha Industrial Security Force (OISF) were killed  while 30 others injured in the violent clash. The deceased have been identified as Dina Patra (contractual employee) and OISF havildar Sujit.

As per reports, the labourers were staging a dharna in front of the main gate of Vedanta Alumina demanding jobs for locals. But when security personnel of the factory asked them to disperse, the agitators tried to barge into the premises and torched the security guard shed.

Later the security guards resorted to lathi-charge injuring 30 labourers. Though the injured were rushed to the refinery hospital immediately, the two persons including a labourer of the factory succumbed to the injuries at the hospital.

"We do not know what happened at the plant gate but security guards attacked us," said an injured.

As the situation turned grim, the district administration has clamped the prohibitory orders under Section 144 in front of the factory's main gate.

Kalahandi SP, B Gangadhar said, " The situation is now under constrol. We had asked people to inform us regarding the missing persons. However, so far we have not got any reports."

This is not the first instance of such an incident outside the Vedanta as people residing near the factory had staged agitations on various occasions.

"We are deeply saddened by the news and we offer our condolences to the families of the deceased; we will work with full cooperation with the appropriate authorities who will be looking into the incident," said  Vedanta Ltd, (Lanjigarh Unit) Spokesperson in a statement.

Later in the day, Kalahandi SP informed that the Vedanta company will provide a compensation of Rs 25 lakh to the next kin of the two deceased killed in today's violent clashes.