Ranchi, Dec. 15: Four days after suspected People’s War extremists stormed Indian Aluminium Company’s small township at Bagdu in Lohardaga district, loading and despatch of ore from the captive bauxite mines remained suspended on Monday. The rebels had not placed any embargo on mining though.

But despatch of ore have not commenced, despite assurances by the district administration.

The extremists had warned Indal officials against continuing loading and despatch work, though they had “permitted” the company to go ahead with mining and making payments to workers.

The extremists had on Thursday evening laid siege to some mines of the company in the area, manhandled some company officials, destroyed property and took away Rs 1.04 lakh in cash with them.

They had demanded that company officials should hold talks with them before starting loading and despatch.

The police establishment of the district is in a state of flux with the transferred police superintendent C.P. Kiran proceeding on leave today and his replacement, Abdul Ghani Mir, yet to assume charge. Deputy commissioner Rahul Sharma said the government had set up a temporary police picket in the area to improve the security scenario.

“We promised the company officials security and requested them to start loading work. But till today it has not started,” he added. The district administration had demanded a CRPF company to “further improving the security scenario” and as a “confidence-building measure”. The CRPF contingent assigned to it had been withdrawn. Sources in Ranchi said the company would soon be sent to Lohardaga.

“Sending CRPF company is a general measure and has no relation with the Bagdu incident,” the sources said. Although company officials claimed that when they had called on the chief secretary, she had assured immediate deployment of CRPF.

The raiding extremists, they said, were well armed and were particularly harsh on officers who tried to hide. They had left after declaring that the “real demand” would be communicated to the company “after seven days”.

Scared company officials are convinced that the extremists would ask for regular payment. “If we pay up, we violate the law and damage the company; if we don’t, we put our lives at risk,” said an officer, underlining the dilemma.