Clashes erupted between police and citizens at gold mines in Rasaris area in South Kordofan’s El Tadamon Locality on Thursday.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj yesterday, an eyewitness at the scene said the clashes occurred between miners and police when some policemen threatened two citizens who were heading to goldmines, angering the miners’ colleagues.

At least four people were wounded and tents as well as a small hut inhabited by police were torched by the workers during the incident. The wounded were taken to Tartar hospital for treatment, the source said.

“The problem started when policemen stopped two civilians riding a motorbike heading to the goldmines. When they stopped, the police started telling them you sit down and get up several times, until one of them who is suffering from a kidney infection fell down,” he explained.

“Nevertheless they were still threatening them with a gun, a matter which angered the workers in the field, so the clashes erupted,” he added.

The policemen were expelled by the angry miners and ran to the locality headquarters   to bring an additional force so as to face the workers, according to the same source.

Meanwhile the miners also expressed their discontent about heavy taxes levied by the police at the mining fields.

File photo: A processing site at a gold mine in South Sudan (Marcus Bleasdale / Human Rights Watch)