Bauxite mining: Police rule out threat to TDP leaders, minister

Visakhapatnam: Police today clarified that Andhra Pradesh minister Ch Ayyanna Patrudu has not received any threat from Maoists in the wake of state government's move to allow mining of bauxite in forest land in Visakhapatnam district.

"The situation in the Visakhapatnam agency area is peaceful. We have no information about any life threat to any political leaders (of TDP) including the Panchayat Raj minister Ch Ayyanna Patradu," Visakhapatnam SP (Rural) Koya Praveen said while dismissing reports in some sections of media about the threat.

He said that police have not beefed up security of any political leader and in the Agency area against the backdrop of government's order on the mining.

In a controversial move, the Chandrababu Naidu government recently gave an approval for bauxite mining in 1,212 hectares of forest land in Visakhapatnam district with certain conditions.

The naxals had reportedly asked the government to cancel its order (GO) in this regard while claiming that allowing the activity will adversely affect the livelihood of tribals.

A bandh was observed on Thursday in the Agency area against the GO.

The ultras had recently kidnapped three local leaders of TDP from the Agency area and asked the government to clear their stand on the bauxite mining issue. However, they released the trio on "humanitarian" grounds. 

Download the all new Deccan Chronicle app for Android and iOS to stay up-to-date with latest headlines and news stories in politics, entertainment, sports, technology, business and much more from India and around the world.