Post News Network
Odapada (Dhenkanal district), Jan 29: Tension ran high in Bhushan Steel at Kantabania here after three minor boys were critically injured in a firing by the company’s security personnel over a trivial issue Thursday.
The three were Manoj Naik (17), Amar Naik (16) and Lakhsmidhar Naik (16) of Talabahala village. They were admitted to a private hospital in Banarpal, from where Amar and Lakshmidhar were discharged after treatment. Manoj was later taken to the district headquarter hospital in Angul as his condition worsened. A woman of Joragadia village was also hurt, accoding to unconfirmed reports.
According to complaints filed by family members of the injured minors with the Kantabania police station, the incident occurred in the afternoon when the security guards opened fire on the three minors while they were taking bath in a pond near the plant premises.
Police registered a case under Section 307, 109, 34 of IPC and 25/27 of the Arms Act and arrested a security guard Khirod Sahu (33) and plant supervisors Ranjit Mohanty (38) and Dillip Dixit (45).
The security guards claimed the three minors were trying to sneak into the plant premises for the purpose of stealing. Police refused to buy this line and termed their firing on unarmed minors as a crime.
Police said it was true that miscreants often sneaked into the plant premises by drilling the compound wall, to steal scraps and other items especially when there is some trouble outside the plant’s main gate and attention of security guards is diverted. Several such incidents had occurred in past, on which complaints were often filed in the police station.
When contacted, SP Nikhil Kanodia said the three accused were arrested and further action will be taken once the probe was over.
