Bauxite mining issue: Naxals abduct TDP leaders

Hyderabad, Oct 6: Naxals in Vishakapatanam are holding three Telugu Desam Party leaders hostage to protest the mining of bauxite in the area, the police have learnt. Naxals abducted three TDP leaders from the Kothaguda village of GK Veedhi mandal in Visakhapatnam district.

Although the naxals have not put out any demand as yet, the police suspect that they are protesting the bauxite mining in the area. The four leaders G K Veedhi, M Balaiah and K Balaiah and M Mahesh were told by the naxals to meet them. They were assured that they would not be harmed.

Vishakapatanam district superintendent of police, Praveen K informed OneIndia that the three have been held captive and no demand has been made as yet. The police feel that the leaders will be taken into the interior of the forests and only then make a demand.

There are however contradictory reports on how the naxals abducted the leaders. Initially it was stated that the naxals entered into the house of one of Balaiah and took him hostage. Later the other three were called by the naxals and told to secure the release of Balaiah. They were assured that they will not harmed and trusting them the leaders met with them.

The police suspect that the leaders may have been taken into the forest area in the East Godavari district. The police are still awaiting a response from the naxals. The police do not want to make any move as yet as it could endanger the lives of those abducted an official informed.

OneIndia News