Naxal Group Demands Funds From Andhra Windmill Operators

Windmill operators in Ramagiri in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh have been served notices by one of the Naxal groups operating in the area to participate in the funding of the organisation.

Identical letters in the name of Communist Party of India (ML) Janasakthi signed by one `Sudhakar, have been delivered to the representatives of the windmills in Ramagiri.

The letters, addressed to the corporate heads of the windmills, give different dates for them to be present to discuss financial assistance for our movement.

The windmill heads have been warned against divulging the contents of the letter or filing a complaint with the police.

There are 14 corporate entities generating windpower in Ramagiri of whom two are public sector concerns Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd and the Aandhra Pradesh State Road Corporation. It is not known whether these two companies have also been served notices.

This is probably the first case of open extortion of industries by a naxal outfit in the state.

In the past, isolated cases of extortion of individual industrialistsby Naxalites in the Patancheru and neighbouring industrial belt in Medak district were reported.

But they were mostly cases where the management was involved in labour disputes with their workmen.

Government and police sources, however, denied knowledge of the extortion bid by the factions in Anantapur district.