Maoists stir up a Nandigram in Vizag

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Sep 11: Vizag Agency might turn another Nandigram where
the outlawed Maoists suspected to be behind the agitation launched against
SEZs. More than 30 were killed in the clashes between the police and
agitating tribals supported by Maoists in Nandigram. The same situation
might arise in Vizag Agency areas. Hitherto pledging their support to the
anti bauxite mining agitation launched by tribals through posters and
pamphlets the ultras took a giant step. Throwing a challenge to the
greyhounds and police the Maoists started organizing meetings in open with
the tribals. They are instigating the local tribals to fight against the
authorities if needed. The meetings by the Maoists gained importance in
view of the AP Pollution Control Board (APPCB) going to hold a public
hearing on bauxite mining in Chintapalle on Oct 3. Around 15 to 30 naxals
with their arms organized meetings in Koundrupalli village last week and
Dhoundupalli village on Tuesday this week. Both the villages come under
the Jerella reserve forest division of GK Veedhi Agency mandal where the
State proposed to mine bauxite through AP Mineral Development Corporation (APMDC). CPI Maoists (East Division)
representative Ganesh along with some of his associates took part on the
meetings. They told the tribals to strongly oppose the bauxite mining at
the public hearing and if needed resort to a physical fight. They tried to
influence the tribals by saying that the bauxite mining is an evil, which
would eat them while throwing them out of gear. The naxals said that the
mining would be a threat to the livelihood of lakhs of tribals and also
affect the surrounding environment. They have also warned the tribals of
dire consequences if they vote for mining at the slated public hearing.
According to the highly placed sources Maoists leader Ganesh at the
meeting in Dhoundupalli said, “You all should be ready for a physical
fight if needed. We would be behind you. Get ready to revolt against the
government which is trying to mine the bauxite mineral”. The ultras
earlier also held similar anti bauxite mining meetings in the villages
going to be affected by the mining in GK Veedhi Agency mandal. After the
Balimela incident where the Greyhound personnel were killed by the ultras
they stopped organizing such meetings as the police stepped up combing
operations on the Andhra Orissa Border, especially in Vizag Agency areas.
Now freshly the naxals organsied these meetings. It was in June this year
in an encounter police gunned down four extremists including three women
members and one important leader Ranadev, who was the master mind behind
the Koraput and some more major attacks in Orissa and Chattisgarh at
Gunukurai in GK Veedhi Agency mandal. It is leant that the police struck
them when they were making arrangements to organize a special meeting
against bauxite mining on large scale. “More than love towards the welfare
of the tribals the Maoists are pledging their support for anti mining
agitation for their own existence. Once the mining starts there will be a
lot of activity in the Vizag Agency, which would be threat for their
survival. Vizag Agency bordering Orissa is a promising shelter zone for
the ultras due to the tough terrain and thick forest cover it offers,”
said a senior political leader belonging to Agency areas. The state
government through Andhra Pradesh Mineral Development Corporation (APMDC)
is planning to mine the bauxite that is richly available in Vizag Agency
tracts. The APMDC entered into MoUs with the Jindal South West Ltd and Ras
Al Khaima, a UAE based firm to supply bauxite. The Jindals and RAK are
planning to setup alumina refineries in Vizag and neighbouring
Vizianagaram districts. The bauxite mined by the APMDC in Vizag Agency
will be supplied to Jindals and RAK. Bauxite mined in Araku and
Anantagiri, both known for rich coffee cultivation will be supplied to
Jindals’ refinery and the mineral available in Jeralla division under GK
Veedhi will be supplied to RAK.