Maoists threaten to kill Andhra minister

Hyderabad: Maoists have threatened to kill Andhra minister Ch Ayyanna Patrudu over bauxite mining in Visakhapatnam district. They reportedly asked Patrudu to prevail upon the state government to withdraw permission for bauxite mining and resign from the ministry. Following the threat call, the minister rushed to the state secretariat in Hyderabad and briefed the chief secretary about he mounting pressure from tribals in his assembly constituency to stop the mining project. Earlier, the government had issued orders permitting mining of bauxite in Narsipatnam. Maoists had kidnapped three ruling Telugu Desam Party functionaries recently and released them after government gave an assurance that it won't take up mining.