Naxals attempt to blow up hydel plant

New Delhi: The Naxals tried to blow up a BSNL communication tower in the Malkangiri district early on Tuesday morning.

Naxals reportedly also tried to trigger explosions at the Balimela Hydel power plant in the state, but couldn't succeed because of increased security arrangements at the plant.

The superintendent of police, S K Gojbhaye, said that the Naxals had planned to trigger explosions at the hydel power plant, one of the major hydel projects in Orissa, but could not succeed because of heavy police deployment at Balimela, 40 km from Malkangiri.

Their frustration might have led them to target the BSNL tower, he said.

The police said the ultras had fixed two landmines below the tower one of which exploded partially damaging the installation. The other landmine, however, did not explode.

A two-day economic blockade called by Naxal organisations to protest against the centre's economic policies is on.

This is the third time that the Naxals targeted BSNL communication towers in the district this month having earlier tried to blow up such installations at Kalimela and MV-79 village.

There were also reports of a foiled attack on a tram by naxals in Kolkata. Security forces are on high alert in naxal-hit states.

Several trains from Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar and Orissa have either been cancelled or are running with high security.

(With agency inputs)