4 held for burning to death Orissa steel plant executive

At least four people have arrested for burning to death a steel factory executive in his vehicle in Orissa's Bolangir district, police said Friday.

They were arrested late Thursday, district superintendent of police AK Sarangi said. Efforts were on to nab the other 20-30 culprits, he added.

A group of workers Thursday set ablaze the vehicle of RS Ray, deputy general manager of a private steel company Powmex Steels near Titilagarh town, about 400 km from Bhubaneshwar when he was on his way home for lunch.

The irate workers allegedly first asked the driver and another company employee who were in the same vehicle to come out. When they came out, the workers poured petrol and kerosene on the vehicle and set it on fire with Ray inside.

A few minutes later the plant's security personnel rushed to the site and took Ray to a nearby hospital. He was shifted to Bolangir town where doctors declared him dead. Hospital doctor Usharani Das said Ray had suffered 90%burn injuries.

Sarangi said some workers were unhappy with Ray for serving them termination notices Wednesday. The killing has been denounced by a state industry body that has also demanded protection for industries.