Maoists oppose road construction, set ablaze vehicles in Kalahandi

Bhawanipatna: Opposing road construction, the red rebels Tuesday night allegedly torched vehicles at Nuamunda village under Madanpur Rampur police limits of Kalahandi district.

Sources said that a group of 30-40 armed Maoists came to the village late last night and torched five tractors, two JCB machines and a mixture machine engaged in construction of road between Urladani and Lahadi.

A contractor had reportedly engaged the vehicles for the construction of road under Mukhyamantri Gram Sadak Yojana.

“Three Maoists came to my house last night and enquired about me. They also asked me about the contractor and asked me to inform him about their decision. They did not harm me but torched the vehicles before leaving the place. While only three of them had come to my house, 30 to 40 as they claimed were at the construction site,” said an eyewitness.

Following the incident, a state of panic prevailed among the locals as the red rebels also left some posters at the site which stated that they set the vehicles on fire as the road construction was initiated despite their opposition.

Meanwhile, the local police is said to have started an investigation into the matter. Besides, security personnel also have launched a combing operation in the area.