Naxalites threaten to blow up hydro projects in state

Close on the heels of triggering a landmine blast near Laxmipur in Koraput district on Thursday, the Naxalites have threatened to blow up two hydro-electric power projects- the Balimela hydroelectric power project in Koraput and the Machhakunda dam project in Malkangiri district in south Orissa.

The Red rebels, who have become very active this region over the past couple of months, have warned of this extreme step protesting the non-electrification of thousands of villages in Koraput and Malkangiri districts. It may be noted, out of 9,000 plus villages, which have not been electrified in the state yet, most belong to these two districts.

The Naxalites have conveyed their threat through several pamphlets found in the two districts. Police, however, said they would verify the genuineness of the threat call even as they put the two hydro-electric power projects on high alert and have initiated steps to beef up security there. Besides, security has also been tightened at three other hydro-electric power projects- 320 Mw Upper Kolab project, 600 Mw Upper Indrabati project and 114.75 Mw inter-state Machhakunda project in the south Orissa region, he added. Meanwhile, the landmine blast triggered by the Naxalites in Koraput today claimed the lives of nine police personnel.

These police officials were killd when their vehicle was blown up at Palur, about 13 km from Laxmipur, a block headquarter town in Koraput district. The incident occurred when the team of police officials from Narayanpatna was passing through the route.

Concerned over the incident, the Orissa government sent an SOS to the Centre, requesting it to send at least four battalions of paramilitary force and a helicopter to bring control over the situation. Earlier, the Maoists had raided the Panchpatmali bauxite mines of National Aluminium Company (Nalco) in Koraput district on April 12 this year.