Bokaro, Dec. 24: Eleven persons, including six policemen, were injured today at the Bangaria-based coal block of Electrosteel Castings Limited (ECL), 32km from Bokaro, during a scuffle when hundreds of villagers, armed with traditional weapons, opposed the company’s mining work that started this morning.

The injured policemen comprised three officers in charge — Nand Kishore Prasad of Chandankyari, Satyam Kumar of Bangaria and Arun Kumar of Pindrajora — and three constables, while five villagers, including three women were hurt.

Those hurt were rushed to nursing homes of Chas and Chandankyari, where they are stated to be out of danger.

An FIR has been lodged against five persons, including one Vishwanath Mandal at Bangaria by the injured policemen and ECL authorities.

Trouble started brewing four months ago, when Vishwanath dug a well on a plot that he claimed he had not sold to ECL. When the company’s management objected, the then Bokaro DC Amitabh Kaushal had ordered an inquiry.

A probe by deputy collector (land records) and negotiations with the district administration later, it was decided that Vishwanath would get Rs 32,000 as compensation. When Electrosteel tried to hand over the cheque to him, he refused.

The company, then, deposited the money with the district administration and pleaded for security to start mining.

When mining started this morning with police protection, Vishwanath mobilised villagers, who forced labourers to stop work, resulting in a free-for-all.

While the policemen said villagers attacked them with “sharp weapons”, the latter said they were caned by the men in uniform.