Injured cops ‘upset’ with Sukma operation planning Day after attack, Maoists torch 17 vehicles at mining site in Kanker

CAUGHT OFF-GUARD Question why small party ventured out in area known to be Maoist hotbed, rue lack of backup

RAIPUR: A day after killing seven policemen in an ambush in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district, Maoists on Sunday allegedly set ablaze at least 17 vehicles engaged in mining work in insurgency-hit Kanker district, police said.

However, no one was hurt in the incident.

A group of armed Maoists raided the Barbaspur iron ore mining site under the limits of Korar police station and after threatening the labourers, they torched 17 vehicles engaged in mining work, Kanker SP Jitendera Singh Meena told PTI.

After torching the vehicles, the Maoists fled into the forest, he said.

On getting information about the incident, a police team was immediately rushed to the spot which found the vehicles, including trucks, mining machineries and JCB, burnt, he said.

A search operation has been launched in the region to nab the ultras involved in the incident, the SP added.

The Maoists are reportedly opposing iron ore mining in the area being undertaken by Neco Jayaswal Company.

Four officials of Neco Jayaswal company, including a general manager, were kidnapped on April 1 by Maoists from a separate iron ore reserve — Chargaon in Kanker district. However, they were later released the same day.

On Saturday, seven STF personnel were killed and ten others injured when Maoists ambushed them in the forests of Pidmel village under Polampalli police station limits of Sukma district, around 450 km from the state capital Raipur. The deceased included a platoon commanderranked officer.