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PWG extremists blow up Coca Cola plant in AP

Left-wing extremists belonging to the outlawed People's War Group blasted the Coca Cola plant near the coastal town of Mangalagiri in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh in the early hours of Sunday.

There were no casualties though there has been extensive damage to the factory.

State police sources in Hyderabad said that the attackers raised slogans condemning 'American imperialism' and the military attack on Afghanistan.

They also denounced globalisation and multi-national corporations.

This is the first time that Naxalites have targeted a factory belonging to an MNC.

Incidentally, the attack took place on the eve of the state-wide bandh (general strike) called by the PWG on Monday (October 22) to protest against the US-led attack on Afghanistan and to express solidarity with the Afghan people.

The police said that a group of 12 extremists in olive green uniforms arrived in a jeep and a motorcycle around 0330 hours (IST). They were armed with six carbines, swords and knives.

They switched off the power supply and cut the telephone lines before storming into the factory complex, located at Peddavadlapudi village near the Andhra Pradesh special police battalion's garrison.

They confined the factory's security personnel to a room before planting and triggered four landmines.

No one was killed or injured in the incident.

The factory boiler room, generator room and other facilities were destroyed while a fire also broke out in the other installations in the factory.

The Naxalites also burnt down four vehicles in the factory premises.

They left behind a note in the name of the PWG's Guntur district committee secretary Mohan, owning up responsibility for the attack. The attackers shouted slogans before fleeing under the cover of darkness.

The loss of property in the incident was estimated at Rs six to Rs seven million, police said.

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