Four employees of a private mining firm who were abducted by Naxals on Wednesday morning were released by evening in the insurgency hit-Kanker district, a senior police official informed. “The Maoists had abducted about seven employees of a company involved in mining around 9 am from Chargaon iron ore mines falling in limits of Siksod police station,” Superintendent of Police (SP) Kanker JN Meena informed.
They were released around 6 pm and are in good health condition. The abducted persons include mining In-charge and few others, Meena said. Around 9 am, a group of armed ultras kidnapped seven workers of Neco Jayaswal Company from the mentioned spot. Few of them including vehicle operators were manhandled at the spot and were released there only. However, five of them were taken away. A few hours later, one of them was released, the SP said.
“The remaining five were released around 6 pm. The employees told police that Naxals were demanding immediate prohibition over mining works ongoing in the region and not to return in the mines or else they would have to face dire consequences,” he said.