The office of Nitta Gelatin India Ltd (NGIL) here was attacked by a group of masked men on Monday morning, causing extensive damage.
The men numbering 9 and suspected to be belonging to the left extremist groups vandalised the corporate office at Panampilli Nagar, accusing the company of environment pollution and its neglect to employ local people.
The company, the second largest gelatine manufacturer in the country, put the losses due to the damage at ₹40 lakh.
According to police, the attackers carrying iron rods and hammers came to the office at around 8 am and trashed the office furniture, computers and also damaged vehicles parked inside the premises. They also distributed pamphlets attributing the attack to Maoist group.
The police sounded alert at all travel points, bus depots and railway stations and hope to nab the culprits at the earliest. The City Police Commissioner also formed a special team for joint investigation.
It may be recalled that NGIL, a joint venture between Japan’s Nitta Gelatin Inc and KSIDC, has been in controversy for a while with allegations of polluting the Chalakkudy River from its production unit at Kathikudam.
Denying the charges made by attackers, Sajiv Menon, Managing Director, NGIL said that the company has already fully implemented 12 of the 23 recommendations made by NEERI under the directions of the Kerala High Court on the Ossein plant at Kathikudam. The remaining recommendations were at various stages of implementation within the timeframe suggested by NEERI.