'Oppose bauxite mining or face same fate as Araku MLAs': TDP MLA gets death threat

The letter, seemingly written by the Central Committee of the CPI (Maoist), was issued to TDP’s Giddi Eswari from Paderu constituency for her stance on bauxite mining in the region.
'Oppose bauxite mining or face same fate as Araku MLAs': TDP MLA gets death threat
'Oppose bauxite mining or face same fate as Araku MLAs': TDP MLA gets death threat
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Weeks after two political leaders from the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) were shot down in Andhra Pradesh, allegedly by members of the Communist Party of India (Maoist), the banned outfit has now threatened yet another sitting legislator, Giddi Eswari from Paderu constituency for her stance on bauxite mining in the region.

In a letter addressed to the management and editors of Telugu newspapers, seemingly written by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of India (Maoist), "You, being a traitor of tribal persons, are criticising us? You are the one who sold out to the ruling party for Rs 20 crore and you will teach us ethics? In the next two months, distribute all your corrupt money to tribal persons and seek an apology."

Giddi Eswari was elected in 2014 on a YSRCP ticket but defected to the TDP in the presence of Andhra Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu in 2017.    

The letter went on to add, “You should also start opposing bauxite mining, otherwise you will also meet the same fate as Kidari (Sarveshwara Rao) and Siveri (Soma). Will you act as per our caution or continue moving forward, hoping that you will get a Minister's post?"

Read a copy of the letter below.

The letter also dubbed Araku MLA Kidari Sarveswara Rao and ex-MLA Siveri Soma who were killed on September 22, as 'Anti-girijan' and 'traitors of the public'.

"In the issue of bauxite mining, we have warned them several times but they have not taken our warnings into account by becoming stooges and agents to the ruling party, and assisted the government from inside. Kidari has cheated people for his own profits and Siveri also has done many misdeeds. That's why we meted out the punishment," the letter stated, referring to the two deceased.

Addressing the police, the letter stated, "Last Sunday, we caught your colleagues with weapons but we haven't killed them. We have left your colleagues without harming them, as they took up the job for survival. However, if our comrades get caught, you cook up stories and kill them in police encounters. Can you people ever be like us?"

This comes days after former Andhra Pradesh Minister and YSRCP General Secretary Dharmana Prasada Rao moved the Hyderabad High Court asking for protection from the state police at the earliest, stating that he feared a threat to his life.

Last month, the police released the names and pictures of three Maoists, including two women who took part in the attack near Lipittuputtu village, about 15 km from the Odisha border. Based on the information gathered from witnesses, the police said that the main accused in the killing was Aruna alias Venkataravi Chaitanya, a Special Zonal Committee Member (SZCM) of the CPI (Maoist).

Speaking to reporters after visiting the crime scene, Andhra Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP) RP Thakur said, "It is an act of cowardice by the Maoists. I have met with the officers and discussed how they carried out the killing. We will take strict action against the culprit. There will be no soft spot for anybody. We have formed a special investigation team with an SP-rank officer to ascertain what exactly happened."

 

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