Out to steal scrap iron, teenager shot dead by security guard of Odisha steel plant

The youth died soon after, but the plant officials did not take him to hospital. It was around evening that he was taken to a local hospital and finally the Government Medical College and Hospital at Burla town where he was declared dead.

Published on: Oct 1, 2021, 24:15:31 IST

By Debabrata Mohanty

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An 18-year-old youth was allegedly shot dead by a security guard of a Sambalpur-based integrated steel plant while the former was trying to steal iron scraps this afternoon, police said.

An 18-year-old youth was allegedly shot dead by a security guard of a Sambalpur-based integrated steel plant in Odisha on Thursday. (GETTY IMAGES.)

According to police in Sambalpur, on Thursday afternoon 4-5 youths were trying to steal some iron scraps from Shyam Metallics’ 2.9 MTPA integrated steel plant in Rengali area when one of the plant’s security guards spotted them. The guard tried to stop them, but when they did not listen, he fired at the young men and hit one of them.

“The youth died soon after, but the plant officials did not take him to hospital. It was around evening that he was taken to a local hospital and finally the Government Medical College and Hospital at Burla town where he was declared dead,” said inspector Dhabaleswar Sahoo of Rengali police station.

Police said they have detained the security guard for questioning. The details of the deceased could not be known immediately.

Earlier this month, Shyam Metallics signed Bollywood actor Salman Khan as brand ambassador for endorsing its S-E-L TMT bars as the company embarked on a four-fold expansion plan in metal capacity comprising intermediate and final products.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Debabrata Mohanty
Debabrata Mohanty is a senior assistant editor of Hindustan Times who works as state correspondent from Odisha covering the state's politics, governance, public policy, natural disasters, environment and its society for close to three decades. With his long years of reporting from the state capital of Bhubaneswar, Mohanty has been known as one of the most experienced and credible journalists covering Odisha for the national English dailies. His reporting combines on-ground detail with deep institutional knowledge detailing the state's changing politics, governance issues, administrative reforms and the functioning of its public institutions. He has regularly reported on issues ranging from legislative developments and public policy implementation. Politics is his core areas of expertise as he closely tracks Odisha's political landscape, including the rise and transformation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the two principal political parties in Odisha. His long association with the state's political establishment enables him to write on contemporary developments in a larger political context. Mohanty takes a deep interest in writing human interest stories, environmental issues and documenting the impact of cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and other climate-related events in one of the most disaster-prone states. His coverage extends to public health, governance reforms and stories on accountability of government institutions. Before joining Hindustan Times, Mohanty worked with The Indian Express, Mail Today, and The Telegraph, where he covered at least six general elections and as many assembly elections. In 2007, he was selected for the prestigious Chevening Young Indian Print Journalist Programme at the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, where he received advanced training in print journalism. In 2009 he won the Press Institute of India-International Committee of Red Cross award on conflict reporting for his on-ground reportage of 2008 Kandhamal riots.Read More