Vedanta To Give Rs 25 lakh To Kin Of Those Killed In Clash

Bhubaneswar: Vedanta has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 25 lakh each to next of kin of two persons killed after a lathi-charge on Monday.

A protester and an Odisha industrial security force personnel had died during clashes outside Vedanta Ltd’s alumina refinery in Lanjigarh.

In a statement, Vedanta said: “This morning some agitators near our Lanjigarh plant staged a protest which led to a violent agitation. The local OISF personnel, who intervened, were attacked by the protesters during which some protesters and OISF personnel got injured and were immediately moved to the local hospital. According to the hospital authorities, one protester and an OISF staff have succumbed to injuries.”

Vedanta offered condolences to the families of the dead. “We are deeply saddened by the news and offer our condolences to the families of the dead,” it added.

Tension prevailed at Vedanta Alumina’s refinery plant site at Lanjigarh in Kalahandi district on Monday following the death of the two persons.

Sources said displaced residents of Rengupali village staged a protest on Monday, demanding permanent jobs. Security guards at the plant asked them to withdraw the stir, following which a heated argument ensued.

A scuffle followed when the protesters tried to force their way into the plant. Over 30 people were injured after security guards resorted to lathi-charge. They had to be sent to a hospital at Lanjigarh for primary treatment.

Two among them succumbed to injuries at the hospital. One of them was identified as Dani Patra, a labourer at the plant, the sources said.

The company, in a statement, identified the other dead man as an Odisha Industrial Security Force (OISF) personnel.

A company spokesperson appealed for calm and amicable resolution of the matter, without resorting to violence. The company also assured full cooperation to the authorities concerned to look into the matter.

Anticipating further trouble, the district administration has clamped prohibitory orders under Section 144 in front of the factory’s main gate. Besides, police have also been deployed in sensitive areas of Lanjigarh town.