Chidambaram cancels Nalco mine visit

BHUBANESWAR: Home Minister P Chidambaram, who has been reviewing the law and order situation in Orissa, on Friday cancelled his visit to state-owned Nalco mine in Koraput district due to some technical problem.

Chidambaram, who is on a two-day visit to the state, visited the anti-insurgency training centre and the district armoury in Koraput, 500 km from state capital Bhubaneswar, Thursday and held discussions with senior state police officers.

However, he cancelled his visit to the Nalco bauxite mine that was attacked by Maoist guerrillas April 12. At least 10 Central Industrial Security Force personnel were killed in the attack.

"He (Chidambaram) cancelled his visit to the Nalco mine due to some technical trouble," Deputy Inspector General of Police Sanjeeb Panda said.

Panda further said Chidambaram's visit to communally sensitive Kandhamal was delayed for about one-and-half-hour Friday due to adverse weather conditions.

Chidambaram is expected to visit a government relief camp in Kandhamal where communal conflict killed at least 38 people last year.

Also, the home minister is expected to meet Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Friday before returning to New Delhi.

Hours before Chidambaram's arrival, Maoist guerrillas destroyed control rooms of three mobile phone towers and blew up a railway station building at Kakiriguma village, some 45 km from the district headquarters of Koraput Thursday.