The police suspects Naxals’ hand in the Thursday’s attack on the under-construction J.K. Lakshmi Cement plant at Malpuri-Khurd in Chhattisgarh’s Durg district, causing damages worth around `600 crore to the facility.
“A group in the mob had hurled petrol bombs at the cement factory, set it ablaze. Besides, the manner in which security forces, deployed on the spot, were targeted indicates possibility of Naxals’ involvement in the vandalism,” Durg city superintendent of police R.K. Upadhyaya said on Saturday. “However, the identity of the masterminds in the incident could be ascertained only the completion of the ongoing probe”, he added. Police sources said Maoists’ urban network has been active in the twin cities of Durg-Bhillai for over half-a-decade.
Meanwhile, 36 local villagers arrested in connection with the incident have been remanded to judicial custody for 15 days.