Close on the heels of issuing a fresh threat on National Aluminum Company's (Nalco's) Panchpatmali bauxite mines at Damanjodi in Koraput district, the Naxalites are reported to be training their guns on the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) unit at Sunabeda, also located in Koraput district.
Intelligent sleuths have cautioned the HAL authorities on the possibility of an attack by the red rebels on the PSU's engine division and township at Sunabeda in the Maoist infested Koraput district.
It may be recalled that the naxals had attacked Nalco's Panchpatmali bauxite mines at Damanjodi about 20 km from Sunabeda on April 12 this year, which claimed the lives of 10 personnel of Central Industrial Security Forces (CISF).
Panic has gripped HAL's township area and the employees of the company following the intelligence inputs. Sources said, the left-wing ultras might mobilize the support of the displaced persons, who vacated their lands for the setting up of the HAL plant.
The displaced persons had recently launched an agitation and staged dharana in front of HAL's plant at Sunabeda, alleging that they had got a raw deal from the plant. They demanded development of their areas and jobs in the plant.
The HAL authorities have tightened the security and restricted the entry of the outsiders and the vehicles into the plant. Additional police forces have been deployed in the sensitive and vulnerable areas. Besides, the authorities of HAL's plant have issued identity cards (ID) to the contractual workers. Plans are also afoot to provide similar ID cards to the servants engaged in the staff quarters.
Local police, however, denied any such threat received from the Maoists.
“We have no such information, but we are preparing ourselves to meet any eventuality”, said a police officer.