Govt asks companies to beef up security at naxal-hit areas

Concerned over smuggling of explosives used in mining activities, Government has asked companies in the Moaist-hit states to tighten security and prevent theft of explosives used in their operations.

Concerned over smuggling of explosives used in mining activities, Government has asked companies in the Moaist-hit states to tighten security and prevent theft of explosives used in their operations.

HT Image

In a letter to the Ministries of Steel, Coal and Mines, the Union Home Ministry has said immediate steps should be taken to prevent slipping of explosives to Naxalite groups, who used the same for manufacture of Improvised Explosive Device.

"The Home Ministry has asked these ministries to issue guidelines to public and private companies to prepare a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) with the help of local agencies to shield sensitive explosive/magazine installations which are vulnerable to attacks by the Maoists," a senior Coal Ministry official said.

In the letter written to the three ministries on October 23, the Home Ministry cited attack by the Maoists on bauxite mines of public sector Nalco in Orissa's Koraput district in April, which claimed lives of as many as 10 CISF personnel.