Maoists set truck carrying uranium for UCIL ablaze

Maoists torched a government-owned truck in a uranium mining area close to Jamshedpur.

The truck was carrying materials for the Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) and was engaged at the Bagjata Mines.

From last few weeks, posters with instructions for drivers to stop ferrying uranium ore from the Bagjata Mines have appeared on trucks at regular intervals, instilling fear and tension among transporters.

Maoist leaders have threatened transporters with dire consequences if they continue to do business with UCIL.

The banned outfit had been demanding permanent jobs for locals in the company as compensation for acquisition of their lands in Bagjata.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Jamshedpur Amol Venukant Homkar said the incident took place early this morning, and added that 15 unidentified armed persons pulled the driver down from the vehicle and then set it ablaze.

Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) plays a very significant role in India's nuclear power generation programme.

Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of UCIL, Diwakar Acharya, said that a police probe was underway.

"We have never experienced any interference in our work from Maoists. The Bagjata Mines have been functioning for the last eight years. We have never had any direct or indirect interference from the Maoists. There have been two Maoist incidents. We need to understand the reason behind the incident, both on the surface as well as the deeper meaning behind it," said Acharya.