Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09KOLKATA101
2009-04-17 10:23:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Consulate Kolkata
Cable title:  

MAOISTS ATTACK ORISSA MINE ON EVE OF INDIAN NATIONAL

Tags:  PTER PGOV EMIN IN 
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VZCZCXRO2412
RR RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHDBU RUEHLH RUEHNEH RUEHPW
DE RUEHCI #0101 1071023
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 171023Z APR 09
FM AMCONSUL KOLKATA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2337
INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA 2863
UNCLAS KOLKATA 000101 

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/INS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER PGOV EMIN IN
SUBJECT: MAOISTS ATTACK ORISSA MINE ON EVE OF INDIAN NATIONAL
ELECTIONS

UNCLAS KOLKATA 000101

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/INS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER PGOV EMIN IN
SUBJECT: MAOISTS ATTACK ORISSA MINE ON EVE OF INDIAN NATIONAL
ELECTIONS


1. (SBU) On April 12, several days before polling began in the
eastern India state of Orissa for both the parliamentary and
state assembly elections, approximately 200 left-wing
extremists, known as Maoists or Naxalites, mounted an armed
attack on the public sector enterprise National Aluminum Company
(NALCO) bauxite mine in Damanjodi. Damanjodi is located
approximately 600 km southwest of the Orissa's state capital
Bhubaneswar in Koraput district, a district with a history of
Maoist activity. According to a NALCO official, 11 soldiers
from the Central Industrial Security Force, the government
paramilitary force responsible for protecting public sector
industrial enterprises, along with five Maoists were killed in
the encounter. The same source informed PolFSN that while
approximately 200 employees were trapped in the mining facility
during the incident, which began at 9:30 pm and lasted until
early morning the next day, there were no civilian casualties or
hostages. According to media reports, NALCO employees have
refused to return to work until significant improvements are
made for their security.


2. (SBU) The Orissa Inspector General of Police (Operations)
Sudhanshu Sarangi told PolFSN that Maoists had targeted NALCO's
explosive depot consisting of 12 tons of gelatin sticks and
ammonium nitrate. Five kilometers from the Damanjodi mining
facilities, an unknown number of Maoists also simultaneously
hijacked a truck laden with nine tons of explosives. Sarangi
confirmed that security forces recovered the truck and all
onboard explosives. According to media reports, Maoists may
have laid land mines on the roads approaching Damanjodi in an
attempt to thwart security forces moving into the area. State
security forces are currently working to sweep the area and
clear any planted mines. According to media reports, this
attack has prompted a central government review of security at
public and private firms in parts of India with Maoist
activities.

Comment


3. (SBU) The repelled Maoist attack on the NALCO mine is the
most brazen attack in Orissa since the Maoists successfully
looted a state police armory in February 2008. The attack,
along with a number of Maoist Election Day attacks on state
security forces in Bihar, Chattisgarh and Jharkhand, may signify
Maoist intent to persuade villagers in affected areas to heed
the Maoist's call for a boycott of the parliamentary elections,
which will continue in four more phases until May 13. The
Maoists may also be trying to improve their ability to extort
funds from public and private mining or industrial interests,
which have been known to pay Maoists for their security. The
attack highlights the additional security-related costs of doing
business in remote, forested areas in Eastern India.

PAYNE