Jajpur: Protesting the attack by CISF jawans deployed at Tata Steel’s plant at Kalinga Nagar in Odisha’s Jajpur district on them and their teachers late on Sunday night, irate students of a residential school staged dharna in front of the plant’s main gate on Monday.
Sources said a group of security personnel deployed at the steel facility entered the residential school premises at Gobarghati late on Sunday night and severely thrashed 33 students and two teachers.
Protesting the incident, the infuriated students demonstrated in front of the main gate of the steel mill on Monday morning demanding action against the security staff.
Tension ran high at Gobarghati after the locals staged a road blockade on National Highway-200 seeking action against the security personnel.
Vehicular traffic on the National Highway was disrupted for some time due to the blockade.
The Tata Steel, in a press information note, said several cases of stone pelting on security personnel have been observed near Government High School, Gobarghati, located close to the boundary wall of Tata Steel’s Kalinga Nagar plant.
On February 15, a student of the school was caught red-handed in the act of stone pelting and the local police was informed about it. As per the statement of this student, many students, in association with outsiders, resort to such nefarious activities in pursuit of their malafide intentions and at times indulge in stealing management property, it said.
“However, in the alleged beating of students’ case, CISF has already directed for an inquiry into the allegation. If anybody is found guilty, suitable action will be taken against the person concerned. Tata Steel has always believed in development of the community and is committed to maintain cordial relationship with the local community,” said the press note issued by the Chief, Corporate Communications, India and SEA, Tata Steel, Kulvin Suri.
