Gadchiroli district, which is affected due to the naxal menace, houses mining, paper, paper pulp, rice mills and silk worm centres. Besides, the region is a major centre for the tendu leaves collection.
The police have warnedindustries not to enter into any compromise through any mediator with naxals as the entire exercise may boomerang on them.
Deputy Inspector General of Police, who did not want to be named, told Business Standard, “Preliminary investigations revealed that Jaspal Dhillon, vice president, Lloyds Metal, AP Mallikarjun, Hyderabad based sub contractor and Raju Sanmek, police patil of Surjagar village, who were killed on Wednesday night in the Etapalli forest by naxals, had entered the naxal dominated area without keeping the police and security forces in the know. They were in constant touch with naxals to reach an understanding. But the opposite happened.”
Meanwhile, the state government is pursuing with the Centre to step up efforts for the establishment of mobile connectivity in Gadchiroli district. State government has recently called upon BSNL to set up transmission towers so that mobile connectivity will be available throughout the district. Besides, the state government was in the midst of installation of satellite phones.