KORAPUT: Tension gripped Hindalco Maliparbat mines following a group clash between two groups of workers. Six persons were injured. Police have arrested 18 persons and forwarded them to court. Sources said about 200 pro-Hindalco activists from Kankadaamba village attacked Maliguda villagers, who are anti-Hindalco, while they were distributing leaflets to villagers for attending a meet at Doliamba village against Hindalco Maliparbat mines. The meet was scheduled to be held under the leadership of environment activist Prafulla Samantray tomorrow. Maliparbat Surakhya Samiti secretary Arjun Khilo said the Hindalco authorities and district administration will be held responsible for any kind of violence or loss of life in Maliparbat mines area. He said cultivable lands in 27 villages will be affected if the mines are allowed to operate. Hindalco DGM (project) Biswa Ranjan Kumar Padhi, however, clarified that the clash was not related to the company.