Dozens of armed Maoists carried out attack at the NMDC ltd., India’s largest iron ore producer and exporter in public sector, at violence-hit Dantewada district under Bailadila hills, police officials said on Wednesday.
The rebels targeted Deposit-5 at Bacheli where it set about 200 metres of conveyor belt of the NMDC ltd on fire. The Maoists had walked away free after carrying out the attack and arson. As the news of arson and gun shots in the air spreads, NMDC officials, leaders of various trade unions and jawans of Central Industrial security Forces (CISF) as well as fire brigade, rushed to the spot and the blazing fire was brought under control at least after three hours. The incident took place at around 1 am.
NMDC officials based at Bacheli said that Tuesday's incident was one of the biggest attacks on NMDC facilities in Chhattisgarh in recent years. The officials claimed that iron ore production at NMDC’s Deposit-5 at Bacheli would be possible at least for next 15 days due to arson.
The NMDC, which has several iron ore mines at the sprawling Bailadila hills which is made up of Bacheli and Kirandul, has suffered loss in millions due to Tuesday’s late night attack. Meanwhile, the Maoist attack has created panic in entire Bacheli and Kirandul residential pockets and police vehicles were spotted patrolling the hilly areas throughout on Wednesday to restore confidence of the local civilians which are mostly the NMDC staff and their families.