Maoists bomb Odisha village building

Maoist rebels early Tuesday blasted landmines and damaged a government building in Odisha, police said. No loss of life was reported.

At least 25 rebels triggered the blasts using landmines at the Kyong village council building in Malkangiri district, about 650 km from state capital Bhubaneswar, Superintendent of Police Akhileswar Singh told IANS.

They also set documents and furniture on fire before fleeing, he said.

The attack took place when nobody was inside the building, he said.

The rebels damaged the building fearing that it could be used to house security forces engaged in anti-Maoist operation, police said.

The incident comes about a fortnight after the rebels kidnapped three people from the village and killed two of them April 23 after keeping them in captivity for a day. The rebels also set on fire a mobile phone tower on that day, police said.

Maoists are active in more than half of state's 30 districts.