INDIA: Protesters attack Coke, Pepsi warehouses in Andhra Pradesh

By IPS Correspondents Reprint | | Print |

Att.Editors: The following item is from the Qatar News Agency (QNA)

NEW DELHI, Mar 25 2003 (IPS) - Protesting against the US-led invasion in Iraq, Naxalites of the banned People’s War Group (PWG) attacked Coca-Cola and Pepsi soft drink warehouses in Prakasham and Anantapur districts of Andhra Pradesh, the local press reported on Tuesday.

A group of armed Naxals, including two women members, raided the Coca Cola warehouse at Yerragondapalem Monday to protest the US-led invasion on Iraq and the fake encounters in the state, police in the southern Indian state of Hyderabad said.

The ultras destroyed many cases of Coca-Cola bottles and raised slogans against the US and UK, demanding withdrawal of their forces from Iraq.

In another incident in Anantapur district, the naxals raided a warehouse full of Pepsi bottles near a railway station on the outskirts of Anantapur town, police added.

Meanwhile, after raiding the Coca-Cola warehouse, the Naxals handed over a letter to a villager asking him to forward it to the media.