Tata Steel authorities have hinted that vested interests among workers led to workers-security guards clash leaving nine persons injured, but also admitted that firing on workers was a wrong decision.

A verbal spar between Tata Steel contract workers and the company's security guards over taking bicycles inside company premises led to violent stone vs. bullet combat.

Around 8,000 contract workers lined up outside the company's HSM Gate to attendance. Security guards reminded them of a company rule they could not take their cycles inside the company premises and that they would have to take the bus for employees to work. But workers argued that could not wait for the bus because it would take at least 30 minutes and they would fail to punch in by 8.15am, and would be marked absent.

The contract workers soon turned violent and the security guards resorted to bullets. The resultant run riot and arson left nine persons injured.

When contacted, Tata Steel VP Sanjiv Paul said, "We had issued a circular prohibiting use of bicycles inside premises to prevent mishaps. However, the firing should not have happened."

The company has launched an internal probe into the matter, with a promise that action would be taken against the guilty. The company has also announced that suitable compensation would be given to those injured.