Maoists torch contractor’s vehicles in Odisha

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Padmapur, Jan 8:

Suspected Maoists have torched an earthmoving vehicle and a tractor at a contractor’s camp in Melchamunda area of Odisha’s Bargarh district late on Thursday night.

The Maoists have torched a JCB machine and a tractor belonging to P S Construction, a contractor engaged in construction of roads in the area.

“They came in a group asked for petrol. We said told them that there was no petrol in the camp. Then they pierced the diesel tank and doused the vehicles with it and set them on fire before leaving the site,” said Sukant Chand, a worker of P S Construction who was in the camp at the time of the incident.

“They have not beaten up anybody nor have abused anybody. Their operation was over in 10 minutes. They left by this road, the one you can see. Now the situation is normal. Work has begun. They will be given all types of protection to carry on their work,” said Prakash Patra SDPO Padmapur.

Notably, Maoists have called for a bandh in Nuapada, Malkangiri and Kalahandi districts and some parts of Chhattisgarh today opposing ‘Operation Greenhunt’.

The bandh call was given by the Mainpur Nuapada Divisional Committee of the outlawed CPI (Maoist).