Maoists kidnap 3 TDP leaders

Hyderabad: Maoists have reportedly kidnapped three local leaders of the Telugu Desam Party from the Andhra-Odisha border area in in Vishakhapatnam district. Mukkala Mahesh, Vandalam Balaiah and Balaiah Padal were asked to meet with the Maoists on the assurance that they wouldn't be harmed. District Police Chief K Praveen said, “We have verified. The only possibility is that the Maoists will take them in the deep interior forest area towards the border of East Godavari district... We are waiting for the Maoists to put forth their demands.” He further said the group had earlier threatened “extreme action” if the government failed to meet with their demand.