Two security guards of Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL) and two policemen were injured in a clash when they had gone to stop the theft of coal from a mine near Asansol in West Burdwan district on Wednesday.

Sources said after receiving information that hundreds of alleged pilferers had gone to the Beguniya coal mine of the ECL in Kapistha around 6am, armed security guards of the coal major and the CISF had gone to resist the looting.

The pilferers claimed that what they (pilferers) were doing was a regular thing and demanded that the ECL allow them to continue with the coal theft as it was their livelihood.

But when the guards and the CISF personnel tried to chase the pilferers with batons, they started pelting the forces with stones. Several villagers and family members of the alleged coal pilferers joined in the skirmish.

The ECL guards informed local police after two of them sustained injury in the stone attack and their vehicle was vandalised.

A police contingent arrived from Barabani police station but the coal thieves ransacked one of the police vehicles and beat up law enforcers.

Later, a large police team arrived and chased away the mob and rescued the ECL guards. The injured ECL guards and policemen were treated at a local hospital. The police also arrested four persons.

Sources said the police and ECL security guards intensified raids to stop the pilfering of coal following five deaths in two consecutive accidents while stealing coal from mines in nearby Raniganj.

A fresh syndicate of organised transportation of smuggled coal and illegal mining has emerged in the coal belt of Raniganj, Jamuria and Barabani areas.

"Today's attempt to stop stealing coal was part of the action. Our guards and CISF team immediately rushed to the spot after receiving information that a large number of persons had gone to the mine to steal coal," said an ECL official.

Some of the villagers said on condition of anonymity that coal smugglers who hired them against daily wages regularly pay the police and CISF for running the business unhindered.

"Why have they come to prevent us after being paid by our employers? This is our livelihood," said one of the villagers.

Sources said the pilferers get a wage between Rs 300 and Rs 500 per day against their assignment from the smugglers.

The police and ECL management denied the allegation. "We regularly conduct raids whenever we receive information of coal pilferage. The allegation is baseless," said an officer at Barabani police station.