User:Deepak G Goswami/February 2006 Maoist attack in Kirandul

On 9 February 2006 Maoists attacked National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) explosive magazine at Kirandul, Dantewada district, Chhatisgarh, India.

Background
Dantewada is a part of red corridor of India which experiences considerable Naxalite–Maoist insurgency.

NMDC explosive magazine
The National Mineral Development Corporation is a public sector undertaking engaged in producing minerals. It operates two iron ore mines in Chhatisgarh at Kirandul and Bacheli. There is an eponymous explosive magazine at Hiroli in Kirandul, NMDC Magazine Hiroli. It is used to store a large quantity of explosives including ammonium nitrate. The Central Industrial Security Force is responsible for providing security and protection to the magazine and maintains it as one of its outposts with a fixed strength of personnel permanently deployed within the magazine complex.

Attack
On 9 February 2006 at 08:00 PM (IST) around 900 armed Maoists attacked the magazine. Maoists cut off the communication networks and electricity supply to Hiroli before executing their planned attack. Three CISF personnel were guarding the magazine and the rest fourteen were in their barracks within the magazine premises when the attack happened. Maoists used grenades and petrol bombs and opened indiscriminate fire towards the CISF posts after cordoning off the area. Eight CISF personnel were killed and the rest were asked to surrender through public address system. 17 rifles, 1 pistol, 2 walkie-talkie sets and a large quantity of ammonium nitrate were looted by Maoists after they took over the control of the magazine. Downhill post of the CISF was informed about the attack by a civilian but the attackers had left the area before reinforcement could have arrived.