Naxals beat up NMDC officials & driver, torch two vehicles

Two National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) officials and their driver were allegedly thrashed by Naxalites today in a mining area of the company in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district.
The rebels also set on fire two pick-up vehicles of the NMDC before fleeing the spot, the police said.
"A large group of armed ultras stormed the NMDC's iron ore deposit no. 13 in the densely forested hills under Kirandul police station limits around 11.30 am when the survey work was underway there," Dantewada Superintendent of Police Kamlochan Kashyap told PTI.
The public sector undertaking has been carrying out a survey before commencing the mining work in the deposit.

"Two company officials engaged in the survey work and a driver were beaten up by Naxalites, who later burnt their two pick-up vans. The rebels fled the spot after committing the offence," the SP said.
Upon receiving information, security forces were rushed to the spot and the injured were shifted to a local hospital in Kirandul, he said, adding that a combing operation has been launched in the region to nab the attackers.

According to an NMDC official, the injured identified as senior manager PC Sahu, deputy manager Riktim Roy and driver Sudhakar were provided preliminary treatment at the project hospital in Kirandul and were being shifted to Raipur for further medication.

The Kirandul iron ore complex is part of the NMDC's Bailadila iron ore mines. The company operates another complex, Bacheli, in the same mines. Of the three mechanised iron ore mines of the NMDC, two are in Bailadila of Dantewada district. Both mines contribute major share of the company's output.
Naxalites have targeted the NMDC facility in Bailadila region several times in the past, opposing the mining project citing that excavation activities would drain the area of its resources and thereby enhance the displacement of tribals from their own land.