Team News Riveting
Raipur, July 3
Heavily armed Maoist insurgents struck at iron ore mines operated by Jayaswal Neco Industries Limited (JNIL) in Chhattisgarh’s Narayanpur district today morning.
The rebels gutted six vehicles including a poclain machine that were engaged in the mining activities. According to reports, rebels bashed up the employees of the company and workers who were present on the spot. They later took them hostage. All the employees had returned barring one who was reported to be missing.
Sources said that the rebels also fired at the camp of security personnel located near the mining site. The jawans gave a befitting reply and forced the rebels to retreat. No casualty or injury was reported from the security personnel.
The Nagpur-based JNIL had set up an integrated steel plant in Siltara Growth Centre, Raipur, Chhattisgarh. The company had been allotted iron ore mines in Aamdai of Chhota Dongar Tehsil in Narayanpur district.
The company had proposed production capacity enhancement of iron ore mines from 0.05 million tonne per annum (MTPA) to 2.95 MTPA besides 1.0 MTPA beneficiation plant in a lease area of 192.25 hectares under reserve forest. According to JNIL official site, the expansion proposal is under consideration for clearances.
The Maoist cadres are active in the area and had been opposing the mining activities undertaken by the Neco group. In April 2015, four officials of Neco Jayaswal company, including a general manager, were kidnapped by Maoists from a separate iron ore reserve — Chargaon in Kanker district. However, they were later released the same day.
