Three Telugu Desam leaders of GK Veedhi mandal in the agency (eastern ghats) area of Visakhapatnam district were abducted by the Maoists in protest against the proposal of the State Government to go ahead with bauxite mining, sources said on Tuesday.

TDP mandal party president Mamidi Balayya Padal, senior leader Vandalam Balayya and district committee member Mukkala Mahesh were taken away from their homes at Kothaguda village on Monday evening by a group of Maoists.

On Tuesday morning, the party's east division secretary, Kailasam, sent a letter demanding the government to stop bauxite mining plans, withdraw paramilitary forces from the agency, stop harassing tribals and voicing several other demands.

The fate of kidnapped persons is not known yet. This is the latest incident in the agency which is tense after Maoists stepped up their activity after the State Government made it clear that it would go ahead with bauxite mining.

#sarma.rs@thehindu.co.in

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