Maoists burn road construction vehicles in Odisha

Bhawanipatna: An armed group of Maoists attacked a road construction site and burnt vehicles used for road laying work at Miangpadar in Kalahandi district, police said Tuesday.

About 30 armed ultras, including women, raided the site of a contractor, undertaking road construction from Titijhola to Jugsaipatna under PMGSY, and took the staff out of the camp before setting afire two JCBs, two tractors and a motorbike last Sunday. The contractor was not present at the time of incident in the camp located in an inaccessible area, police said. The Maoists then ordered the villagers to resist road construction work on the plea that it would facilitate Bauxite mining from Khandualgiri and thereby take away their right over the forest. The rebels also claimed that the labourers engaged for road construction were paid low wages. After being informed about the incident, a police team reached the spot yesterday and recovered posters purportedly left by the Maoists at Minagpadar and Jugsaipatna. Investigation into the incident was in progress and combing operation launched in the area, Dehuri said.