Three TDP leaders kidnapped by the Maoists in Andhra Pradesh

Maoists have reportedly kidnapped three local leaders of the Telugu Desam Party from the Andhra-Odisha border area in Visakhapatnam district. The leaders have been identified as Mukkala Mahesh, Vandalam Balaiah and Balaiah Padal.

According to media reports, Maoists had demanded an immediate ban on bauxite mining and had called on the three leaders for a meeting to discuss the same. But the three skipped the meeting.

Yesterday, the Maoists, through their network, had asked the leaders to meet them at Dharkonda, assuring that they would not be harmed.

But when the leaders went to meet them, they were held captive, said K Praveen, the district police chief.

Police received information regarding the abduction last night.

"We have verified (the information). The only possibility is that the Maoists will take them in the deep interior forest area towards the border of East Godavari district... We are waiting for the Maoists to put forth their demands," Mr Praveen was quoted as saying by Press Trust of India.

The Maoists had earlier threatened "extreme action" if the government failed to meet their demand.