Three attacks by Maoists in Kerala; KFC & McDonalds vandalised

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The News Minute | December 22, 2014 | 9.55 am IST

There has been suspected Maoist attacks in three different places at Palakkad and Wayanad districts of Kerala.

In Palakkad, Mc Donalds restaurant, KFC Chicken Outlet and forest offices in Attappady were vandalized. In Wayanad too the forest office was vandalized.

"Around 8 to 10 people came in the morning and vandalised the place. They have distributed pamphlets claiming that this was 10th anniversary of their movement and this was a movement against MNCs." said Nidhin Kanicherry, a CPI(M) activist in Palakkad.

The Mc Donanlds and KFC restaurants near Chandranagar on the Palakkad-Coimbatore highway were attacked.

In Palakkad's Attappady, Silent Valley National Park office range was apparently ransacked and posters were put up calling for an armed revolution. The suspected Maoists also burnt the vehicle which was parked in front of the office.

Reports say that an armed group of 19 people had attacked the office around 1.30 am on Monday. The group damaged window panes and other equipment at the office.

In Wayanad, the Vellamunda forest office was vandalized. Damage was caused to all the furniture and window panes in the office.

No person was injured in any of the attacks. All the attacked places have the Maoist posters pasted referred to as CPI(Maoist) Western ghat committee.

"It is our mission to make american corporates like McDonalds and KFC leave Indian soil" was the title of the pamphlets that were distributed near KFC and McDonalds in Palakkad. The pamphlets were signed off by the Secretary of the Western region of the CPI(Maoist).

"The people need not worry about these attacks. We will first verify if this is actually a Maoist attack or committed by someone else under their banner. Even if it is a Maoist attack people need not worry, the state police is very well equipped to tackle them. The state government will also take steps to develop these places," Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala reacted.

Kerala had, during the last one year, witnessed widespread protests after reports submitted by Madhav Gadgil and later by K. Kasturirangan regarding the conservation of the western ghats. The western ghats were included in the World Heritage List prepared by the UNESCO taking into consideration its ecological richness.