Firing in Sarappa; Bhusan Steel official absconding

Angul, Nov 9 (UNI) A senior vice-president of Bhusan Steel and Strips Limited here has been absconding following a case registered against him in connection with the firing incident in Sarappa and Ragunathpur villages on Monday.

According to North Central Range DIG Arun Kumar Sharanghi, the police have arrested two security guards and sent them to jail in connection with the firing incident but the senior official of the company is yet untraced.

Two security guards of the company on Monday rushed to the village in vehicle accompanied by the company vice-president chasing thieves.

They then opened fire in the villages creating havoc.Though no one was injured in the firing but the irate villagers next day blocked the main gate of the company steel plant demanding the arrest of Company Vice President Paras singh and the two guards.

In May 2006, also goons hired by the company officials hurled bombs at the peaceful protesters of these two villagers. Several villagers were injured in the incident.

The Police then also booked several company officials and some of the contractor's men following violent agitation. Mr Singh was named in the FIR then and was arrested.

On the Angul-Dhenkanal border Bhusan Steel and Strips Limited is setting up six million tonne annual capacity steel plant displacing people in seven villages.

It had started the construction in 2003 and begun production from the first phase.The second and final phase construction, however, had led to series of tension in the area between the company officials and the affected villagers.

Meanwhile, company PRO Rajiv Aspana has denied any role of Singh in Monday's firing incident in the villages.

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