India Maoists attack Nitta Gelatin office

Kochi: A nine-member gang, with seven of them donning ski masks, vandalised the corporate office of the Nitta Gelatin India Ltd at Panampilly Nagar here and distributed pamphlets in the name of ‘CPI (Maoists)’ claiming that there was a need for such armed attacks against the company causing environmental pollution at Kathikudam, Thrissur. The well-planned attack occurred at 7.50 a.m. on Monday when the police personnel deployed at public places go back to stations as part of shift change. “As per the CCTV records, the attack lasted for two minutes from 7.44 a.m. before the attackers left a pamphlet at the office and distributed more to onlookers as they proceeded towards the Atlantis railway gate side by foot. The images of two gang members who didn’t wear a mask were captured on the CCTV cameras installed at the company office and that of the nearby bank,” said a senior Special Branch officer.
The camera recording showed that the attackers came walking and were aged between 25 and 35 years. Initially, a man turned up at the venue and inspected the site before signalling his friends to come over. Two more persons arrived from the opposite direction and proceeded to the office entrance. As the security stopped them, the others too barged in with one of them carrying a travel bag in which pipe rods and hockey sticks were kept. “One of them spoke Malayalam while the others threatened me in Hindi to stay away. They then vandalised the front door, the windshield of a car, showcase, display panels, computers and telephone,” said Vincent Victor, security guard.
According to him, the men raised slogans. They also left behind a letter written in Malayalam stating that there was a need to take action against the company as it was causing pollution (at its manufacturing unit at Kathikudam near Koratty in Thrissur district) and exploiting the water sources there. “As per initial probe, a Left extremist group is behind the incident. An alert was sounded across the state. Sketches of two faces caught on camera were made and circulated to all police stations directing to conduct searches at railway stations, hotels, lodges and the like. A special squad under City Police Commissioner K.G. James was formed to probe into the incident,” said Mr M.R. Ajith Kumar, Ernakulam Range Inspector General.
“We’re probing the Maoist angle. We’ve recovered pipe rods used in the attack and also spotted blood that oozed out of the wound of one of the attackers, probably after the glass pieces pierced his arms. We’re verifying the sketch with those who attended a meet hosted by Maoist supporters on October 24, 2013. Also we’re tracking suspected Maoist activists,” said sources. “There were two male and three female staff in the company at that time. One of them (John) followed the attackers who proceeded to the railway gate side. But they suddenly disappeared. Either they used a vehicle kept there or hid in a building nearby,” they said. The company officials estimated the loss at Rs 40 lakh.