Maoist camp razed, weapons seized

Acting on a tip-off, BSF jawans and police personnel raided a rebel camp in Similipadar forest of Badapada in Chitrakonda area of Malkangiri, Inspector In-Charge of Chitrakonda police station, Debasis Mishra said.

The ultras present in the camp disappeared into dense forests. However, three guns, some explosives and fuse wires used in land mines were recovered from the spot, Misra said.

Volumes of Maoist literature and medicines were also seized, he said. The camp was destroyed and combing operation stepped up in the area, he said.

In another incident in Nuapada district, about 40 heavily armed Maoists attacked a stone crusher unit of a private builder and threatened the workers before setting afire 15 vehicles and a machine, police said.

The vehicles torched by the ultras included eight dumpers, five tractors, a trawler and a van, sub-divisional police officer S B Satpathy said.

The rebels put up posters at the site voicing protest against `low wages being paid to the workers`, Satpathy said, adding, the posters also warned against supply of water from Tikhali irrigation project to industrial units.