Maoists attacks Balimela Power house in Orissa’s Malkangiri

The armed Maoists have destroyed the Valb House of Balimela Power house in the late night of Saturday. As per the information, about 20 armed Maoists have destroyed the Valb House of the Balimela Water Project, for which the Power production has been stopped. The Maoists, however, did not harm the security personnel and other staff who were on duty at the Valve House but locked them in a room.
They also damaged the intake tunnel of the power station, according to sources. Balimela power station, which is situated about 70 km away from the district headquarter town of Malkangiri, is run by the Orissa Hydro Power Corporation. A team of officials have rushed to the spot and assured that repairs would be carried out in two days.
The Maoists also left behind some posters in which they stated that the administration had promised to provide electricity and communication facilities to the people of 108 villages of the cut off regions for which they have carried out this attack. They also demanded the withdrawal of the COBRA Battalion and Mizo police units which have arrived for Operation Greenhunt.