Naxals torch 17 vehicles at mining site in Kanker

A day after killing seven policemen in an ambush in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district, the Naxals today allegedly set ablaze at least 17 vehicles engaged in mining work in insurgency-hit Kanker district, police said.

No one was hurt in the incident, they said.

A group of armed Naxals raided the Barbaspur iron ore mining site under the limits of Korar police station and after threatening the labourers, they torched 17 vehicles engaged in mining work, Kanker Superintendent of Police Jitendera Singh Meena told PTI.

After torching the vehicles, the Naxals fled into the forest, he said.

On getting information about the incident, a police team was immediately rushed to the spot which found the vehicles, including trucks, mining machineries and JCB, burnt, he said.

A search operation has been launched in the region to nab the ultras involved in the incident, the SP added.

The extremists are reportedly opposing iron ore mining in the area being done by Neco Jayaswal Company. Notably, four officials of Neco Jayaswal company, including a general manager, were kidnapped on April 1 by Naxals from a separate iron ore reserve - Chargaon in Kanker district. However, they were later released the same day. Yesterday, seven STF personnel were killed and ten others injured when Naxals ambushed them in the forests of Pidmel village under Polampalli police station limits of Sukma district, around 450 km from the state capital Raipur. The deceased included a platoon commander-ranked officer.