Tension gripped the iron ore mines of Adhunik Metalliks Ltd (AML) at Patmunda after private security guards opened fire at a group of workers over wage dispute on Thursday.
Five workers sustained bullet injuries and three of them were shifted to the Rourkela Government Hospital (RGH).
According to reports, 700 workers were present to receive payments to the tune of ` one crore at the Patmunda iron ore mines of Odisha Manganese & Minerals Company, owned by AML, about 110 km from Rourkela.
The firing took place between 2.30 pm and 3 pm when the workers objected to deduction of provident fund and medical shares.
In the melee, a group of workers were engaged in a scuffle as one of the private security guards in panic opened indiscriminate firing from a single barrel gun inflicting bullet shot injuries on five of them. The enraged workers then snatched the gun while the company officials and security men managed to flee.
Bonai SDPO Amaresh Panda said the situation is under control and to prevent escalation of tension, company officials were again brought to the spot and payment to rest workers was made. He said two of the workers received minor injuries while rest three were shifted to RGH. Their condition is stable, he added.
The private security guard whose name was not disclosed has been detained. Three of the injured workers are Tulasi Munda, Manasi Munda and Kaplu Barik.
Heavy deployment of police has been made at the site.
Meanwhile, Odisha unit CITU general secretary Bishnu Mohanty and former CPM legislator of Bonai Laxman Munda have called Koida bandh on Friday demanding arrest of the errant security guard, resident manager and mines manager of the company.