Berhampur: Suspected Maoists
on Wednesday torched at least four vehicles of a contractor at
Baragada area in Ganjam district last night, police said.
The incident took place on the eve of Kandhamal bandh
which has been called by the outlawed CPI (Maoist). The
supporters of Maoists had blocked the road connecting Sorada
in Ganjam district and Daringibadi in Kandhmal district.
The bandh call was given in protest against the
killing of nine Maoists by the police near Kashipur in
Rayagada district on January 9 last.
Around a dozen mask-covered rebels allegedly raided
the camp at Borada under Baragada police station limit and set
afire at least three vehicles, parked there.
They also set fire to another vehicle at Rangagudi,
near the camp. The ultras also took away a motorcycle from the
camp, the police said.
The rebels pasted two posters on the spot asking the
contractor to stop using machines in the construction work and
to pay adequate wage to the labourers.
One Girish Chandra Nayak of Sorada was constructing
the road from Baroda to Goudagotha under Pradhan Mantri Gram
Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). He set up a makeshift camp at Borada
village to execute the work.
Meanwhile vehicular traffic from Berhampur to
Daringibadi and Bramhnaigaon was disrupted as the ultras
blocked the road by cutting trees near Gajalabadi village.
Though not sure, police suspected it to be handiwork
of Maoists. We are inquiring it from all angles? DIG
(southern range) R K Sharma said.
Some locals were detained in this connection, he said.
Precautionary measures have been taken with
deployment of adequate forces in the border areas.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, January 19, 2011, 15:43