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Indian Extremists Destroy Coke Plant To Protest "American Imperialism"
NEW DELHI, Oct 22 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - The first reverberations of the U.S. strikes in Afghanistan were heard in a remote village in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, where Naxalites of the outlawed People's War Group (PWG) blew up a Coca Cola bottling plant on Sunday in protest against "American imperialism", news agencies reported Monday.
According to the Times of India, an English daily published in New Delhi, there were no casualties. But , Iran's state-run IRNA news agency reported six million rupees in property damage to the destroyed plant, which was located at Atmakur village near Mangalagiri in the Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh.
The outlawed PWG has no links with Afghanistan, but has jumped onto the anti-imperialism brigade, shouting anti-globalization slogans.
According to press reports, 12 Naxalites stormed the Coca Cola factory.
The Coke factory guards were locked in the security room. The Naxalites used three steel cans filled with explosives to destroy a boiler and the transformer room of the factory. A fourth can, full of explosives, could not be exploded.
The Naxals shouted anti-globalization and pro-PWG slogans while fleeing, sources said. They left behind a note, saying their attack was in protest against "American imperialism".
The note also warned that there would be more attacks against multinational companies. The police said the note was signed by PWG's Guntur District Secretary, Mohan.
The plant is just 5 kilometers away from the headquarters of the Andhra Pradesh Special Police battalion in Mangalagiri.
A statement by Coca Cola India issued in New Delhi expressed shock at the attack, adding the company was one of the "largest movers of India's industrial economy." It has requested government protection of its plants and establishments.
Police have intensified operations in the north Telengana districts in the wake of today's attack.
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