India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

Suspected Maoists have blown up a mobile phone tower in Orissa's Malkangiri District. The incident occurred late on Thursday night. According to Deputy Inspector General of Police Sanjeeb Panda a group of armed Maoists blew up the mobile phone tower at Kudmuluguda area. The tower belongs to Airtel company. In 2009 alone, Maoists have demolished 71 school buildings, 23 Panchayat Bhawans, two power plants. They also destroyed 67 telephone exchanges or mobile towers. Maoists also targeted railway property for 46 times and targeted specific industrial establishments at least 17 times in 2009. Earlier this month, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram described the Maoists as anti-poor and anti-development. He had said the Maoists have targeted all instruments of development. "The Naxalites are anti-development and have targeted the very instruments of development - school buildings, roads, telephone towers etc. They know that development will mean the masses, especially poor tribals, wean them away from the grip of Naxalites," Chidambaram said.

Maoists blow up mobile tower in Orissa