Workers go on rampage in Chhattisgarh

RAIPUR - About 500 workers went on a rampage Saturday in Chhattisgarh’s Raigarh district to protest the death of one of their colleagues in a steel plant accident, police said.

Ajay Rathia, 28, died Friday at sthe Monnet Ispat and Energy Ltd. located at Naharpali area, some 200 km from state capital Raipur.

According to police, the agitated workers assembled at the factory gate and accused the plant management of hushing up the death. They insisted on a meeting with plant officials but no one turned up. The irked workers then ransacked the place.

Workers pelted stones at the police when they were asked to disperse.

The police first baton-charged the protesters and then fired tear gas shells to contain the situation, a police officer said.

“Few policemen were injured in the stone throwing,” an official said. The exact number of injured policemen was not known.

Plant officials were not available for comments.