4 truck drivers arrested for stealing iron ore fines

Rourkela: Four truck drivers were arrested Monday night for allegedly stealing iron ore fines worth around Rs 10 lakh from a mining site in Bonai sub-division of Sundargarh district.The accused were identified as Kuber Jyotish (42) from Angul district, and three others from Telangana - Praveen Kumar Pagidipally (32), Alankuta Venkatesh (49), and Keshmoni Ramesh Goud (36). All four trucks containing the stolen material have been seized by K Balang police.According to Shraban Pradhan, in-charge of Mata Dadhimati Metals and Minerals, the incident occurred in the early hours of March 23 when 10 to 15 unidentified persons entered their premises at Rangra with four trucks and a JCB. They threatened the security staff, Uttam Kumar Maharana and Ajit Das, with lethal weapons while loading the iron ore.While three trucks managed to escape, the fourth vehicle experienced mechanical failure near the premises. K Balang police, acting on Pradhan's complaint, arrived at the scene and apprehended the stranded driver. Based on his interrogation, the other three drivers were arrested on Monday afternoon.Officer-in-charge, K Balang police station, A K Behera said efforts are on to nab the accused, who are on the run. The stolen iron ore was part of a larger stockpile that had been awaiting dispatch clearance from the deputy director of mines, Koida, since 2019.