VISAKHAPATNAM: Ahead of the observance of Martyrs’ Week, the Maoists have struck again and blasted the pipelines of Essar company in Chintapalli mandal on the Andhra-Odisha border in the Agency of Visakhapatnam district here Sunday. Tension prevailed in the Agency area following the incident which occurred a day before the commencement of the Martyrs Week by the CPI (Maoist) from July 28 to August 3.
According to sources, the Left wing extremists of Korukonda Area Committee blasted parts of the pipeline Sunday. The pipeline was constructed by Essar Steel to transport iron ore from the Bailadila iron ore mines near Kirandul in slurry to its pelletisation plant in Vizag.
The incident would impact the transport of the material until the pipeline gets repaired. The police said that to prove their presence, the Maoists are known to resort to such activities and this incident is one of them. However, the police have intensified the combing operations in the Agency along with Andhra-Odisha Border, keeping an eye on the Martyr’s Week observance.