Two warring groups of unorganised labourers pelted stones at each other during a clash at Godhar Coal dump of Bharat Coking Coal Limited on Friday demanding priority in work allotment.

Several labourers were injured in the clash.

The situation however came under control after a police lathicharge and forced eviction of some agitating laborers sitting on dharna at the coal loading site.

Dhanbad Sub Divisional Officer, Surendra Kumar who also reached at the site along with a large number of policemen took details of the incident from the colliery management and workers and warned the representative of both the groups of resorting to any sort of violence.

Unorganised labourers engaged in manual coal loading work at Godhar Coal Dump, including one group led by Trade Union Janta Mazdoor Sangh (Bachcha Singh faction) and other groups of local residents keep fighting on the issue of allotment of coal loading work.

Over 60 supporters of the Bachcha Singh faction on Friday sat on the dharna at the Godhar demanding allotment of work.

The protesters blocked the entrance of the coal loading site since the morning, obstructing the movement of other labourers inside the mine which in turn affected the coal loading and coal transport work. The tension continued for more than an hour.

Perturbed over the blockade, another group of labourers who were allotted work, objected over the blockade after which a verbal argument ensued between them and some resorted to stone pelting against each other.

A team of Kenduadih Police station led by officer in charge, Binod Oraon who reached at the site, carried out the minor lathicharge and also apprehended some of those engaged in blocking the entrance of the coal dump site.

“The issue is a minor one related to demand of work allotment but police and administration had to intervene to bring an end to deadlock as blockade carried by some protesters obstructed the loading work at the site affecting the livelihood of many people,” said Surendra Kumar.

“We will hold a meeting with both the groups and try to find out an amicable solution under the mediation of BCCL officers” further said Kumar.