Chennai: Gang barges into construction site; attacks workers with knives, logs

CHENNAI: A 34-year-old guest worker was injured after a group of more than 10 men allegedly entered a construction site in Kolathur and attacked workers with knives and wooden sticks following a dispute over money on Thursday (September 3) night.

According to the police, around 35 workers from Odisha, West Bengal, and Bihar are employed and residing at the under-construction, four-storey building on Vivekananda Main Road in Senthil Nagar. The incident occurred around 11 pm on September 3.

Officials said three youths, all aged around 20, arrived at the site on two-wheelers and allegedly demanded a beedi and Rs 100 from Ashraful, a worker from West Bengal, who was standing outside the building. When he refused, they allegedly assaulted him.

Hearing the commotion, other workers came out. Two of the youths fled, while the workers allegedly caught one of them and locked him up inside a room at the construction site.

The two youths who escaped returned with more than 10 others on two-wheelers.

The group allegedly entered the building, attacked the workers with knives and wooden pieces found at the site, and took away the youth who had been detained by the workers.

During the clash, Rajani Sarkar (34), from Malkangiri district in Odisha, suffered injuries to the back of his head, requiring three stitches, and a bleeding injury above his right eyebrow.

He was admitted to the Periyar Nagar Government Hospital for treatment.

The police have launched an investigation into the incident.