Narayanpur (Chhattisgarh) : Two workers were killed when Naxalites detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) at an iron ore mine site in Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur district on Friday, police sources said. Another worker sustained serious injuries and his condition is critical. The incident took place around 8 am when the three workers were going for work in the Aamdai Ghati iron ore mine under the Chhote Dongar police station limits.
The injured worker is undergoing treatment at the Chhotadongar Community Health Centre (CHC). The intensity of the IED blast is said to be very high and the blast site is located around 350 km away from the state capital Raipur.
The deceased labourers have been identified as Ritesh Gagda (21) and Shravan Gagda (24), both residents of Narayanpur district. The body of Shravan who was reported to be missing after the explosion, was found at the blast site, sources said. The injured worker, Umesh Rana, was 'admitted' to a local hospital. Search operation is underway in the area by security personnel, the official said.
Jayaswal Neco Industries Limited (JNIL) has been allotted the iron ore mine in Aamdai Ghati and Naxalites have been opposing the project for a long time.
Prime facie, the workers came in contact with the pressure IED connection triggering the blast, sources said. The deceased was identified as Ritesh Gagda and the injured one as Umesh Rana, he said. Another injured worker was admitted to a local hospital.
Like every morning, the workers were going through the forest to work in the mines. Meanwhile, one of them stepped his foot on a pressure bomb planted on the way. Due to this, 21 year old Ritesh Gagda died on the spot. Another laborer was injured in this blast while another laborer Shravan Kumar went missing after the IED blast. But after some time, the body of Shravan Kumar was recovered by the security forces.
Chhotadongar SDOP Abhishek Paikra said that workers had gone out to work in the mines. During this time the workers' feet fell on the IED. Due to which he died due to the blast. Police and security force personnel are searching in the area. More IEDs planted by Naxalites are being searched in the area.
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