17 hurt in clash over contract

Jagdalpur, Nov 26 (UNI) Seventeen persons were injured -- a dozen severely -- and 15 huts, belonging to labourers, torched today after a clash over an iron ore transport contract in Chhattisgarh's Bastar divisional headquarters, the police said.

Police personnel fired in the air to bring the situation under control. The dispute was festering over the past few days and the contract involved transport at the local station. The victims were admitted at the Maharani Hospital here. Two motorbikes and 70 cycles, parked near the huts, were also charred.

An additional police force has been stationed in the area though no arrest was executed.

UNI XC-AC 1818