Maoist Leader Denies Involvement In Essar Pipeline Damage

Malkangiri: A top leader of the outlawed CPI (Maoist) denied involvement of ultras in the recent damage to the iron ore slurry pipeline of Essar Steel near Digha Janbai village in Ralegada panchayat in the cut-off areas of Chitrakonda block in Odisha’s Malkangiri district.

In a clarification to the media, Ramana claimed that the pipeline was damaged by the maintenance staff of the company, who then shifted the blame on Maoists.

Following the incident, several acres of crops in Digha Janbai village were damaged, he said and demanded compensation towards the loss, failing which the outfit will take exemplary action against the company authorities.

Notably, a portion of an iron ore slurry pipeline of the Essar Steel was found damaged late on January 20 night.

Suspecting involvement of the Maoists in the incident, a team of SOG and BSF personnel had carried out combing operation in the area.

The Left-wing ultras had allegedly damaged the pipeline of the Essar Steel twice earlier in Andhra Pradesh near Odisha-Andhra border and Agency area of Visakhapatnam district in 2017 and 2014 respectively.