Bullet-proof posts for securing NMDC mining site

Bullet-proof posts would power the jawans to keep a vigil in the mining site of National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh.

The decision to make the high-rise posts bullet-proof was taken in wake of Naxalites gunning down two Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) jawans on Wednesday evening. The security personnel were guarding NMDC’s deposit number 5 located in Aakash Nagar Bacheli. The NMDC—country’s largest iron ore producer and exporter having major mining facility in the Bailadila sector mines of Dantewada district. Of the three fully mechnaised mines that the country’s single largest iron ore producer and exporter NMDC own, two are located in Bailadila sector mines of Naxal-infested Dantewada district.

The NMDC is presently producing 30 million tonnes of iron ore, of which Bailadila sector mines share 22 million tonnes. The company stepped in the area in the later half of 1961 and since then it is actively engaged in extraction, development and exploration of many deposits. The mines of NMDC are located in the pockets that are considered to be under the sway of Naxalites.

Though the CISF keep a close watch on the movement of intruders in the mining site, a lapse on the part of jawans was reported to be one of the reasons for Wednesday’s incident, the local police officials said. The mining major had provided bullet-proof jackets to the jawans. But they had failed to put it when rebels sprayed bullets on them Wednesday evening at about 4.30 pm.

Seeing the Naxal activities intensifying in the area, the NMDC had decided to make adequate security arrangement in the mines. As part of it, the high-rise posts keeping vigil in the mining site will be made bullet proof, an NMDC official said.