Maoists kill watchman, torch 5 vehicles in Phulbani

Kandhamal: After a brief lull, Maoists unleashed terror in Patiamba village under Sadar police limits in Phulbani of Kandhamal district by killing a man suspecting him to be a police informer. The deceased identified as Rabindra Mallick was engaged as watchman by a company carrying out a road construction work in the region.

The Maoists also reportedly torched five vehicles including three tractors and a road roller, sources said. The vehicles were engaged in road construction work in the area under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana. The red rebels have been opposing the road construction and other developmental works in the region.

Several posters in the name of CPI (Maoist) KKBN (Kandhamal-Kalahandi-Boudh-Nayagarh) division were also recovered from the spot. On receiving information police reached the spot and have started investigation into the incident.

It is suspected that the Maoists unleashed terror in the region to avenge the killings of five of the cadres in police encounter last year.

According to police, the rebels killed the watchman suspecting that the contractor had earlier tipped police about their movement in the area.

“Maoists carried out the attack and torched the vehicle protesting last year's police encounter in the region,” informed Kandhamal SP, Pratik Singh.