July 25, 2008

Maoists raid Essar Steel iron ore beneficiation plant in Chhattisgarh

It is reported that About 300 heavily armed Maoists raided Essar Steel's plant near Kirandul in Chattisgarh burning around 53 trucks and three heavy machines.

Police said rebels overpowered a few employees working in the plant during the night shift and then sprayed diesel on vehicles and set ablaze at least 53 trucks.

The rebels left pamphlets at the attack site saying their act was to protest against the transportation of local natural resources, such as iron ore, outside the state and the country. Maoist rebels say they are fighting for the rights of the poor and landless villagers.

Essar Steel supplies iron ore from its 8 million tonne per annum iron ore beneficiation plant near Kirandul to the pellet plant in Visakhapatnam. The iron ore slurry is pumped through a 267 kilometers pipeline to the pellet plant.