Ranchi, June 4: Mining, dispatch and transportation of bauxite from Pakhar mines in the Naxalite-hit Kisko police station area of Lohardaga district have come to a grinding halt since Wednesday evening after a group of rebels torched six vehicles.
“Mining and transportation activities have been put on a halt since June 1. Around 25 rebels owing allegiance to the CPI(Maoist) burnt down three trucks, an SUV and two earth-moving equipment around 5.30pm and partially destroyed another vehicle. They also fired in the air and beat up the drivers and helpers,” officer in charge of Kisko police station Munu Tudu told The Telegraph.
The vehicles belonged to a contractor and private operators working for Hindalco Industries Limited — an Aditya Birla Group company.
…. Hindalco general manager (personnel and administration) R.B. Singh said the company was suffering huge losses because of the shutdown.
“We supply around 1,000 tonnes of bauxite from Pakhar, with more than 100 trucks plying daily. Everything has now come to a standstill,” Singh said.