By IANS,
Raipur: Chhattisgarh legislator Bheema Mandavi of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party claimed Saturday that he was threatened by the mining mafia which was ruling the roost in the insurgency-riddled, iron ore-rich Bastar region.
Mandavi, who represents the Dantewada constituency, said the mining mafia had threatened to kill him Friday night when he tried to stop trucks transporting illegal iron ore.
“There is a strong nexus between the iron ore mafia, the local authorities and police. I was threatened when I inquired about trucks ferrying iron ore illegally. Luckily I had bodyguards with me otherwise they would have gone to any extent,” Mandavi told IANS over phone.
The Dantewada constituency is part of the sprawling 40,000 sq km violence-hit Bastar region. It is estimated to have one-fifth of India’s finest quality iron ore reserves.