Maoists set afire construction equipment in Odisha

Over 50 slogan-shouting armed Maoists raided a construction site near MTV-22 under Kalimela police station last night where work was in progress for culvert over a nullah and searched for the contractor.

As panic stricken labourers and workers ran away, the ultras set afire a heavy equipment and threw others materials including cement and iron rods, Malkangiri superintendent of police Akhilesh Singh said.

However, no one was harmed by the ultras during the attack, he said.

The attack came a day after the Maoists had killed a village head Pandu Madkami by silting his throat at Parsanpalli under Padia police station on Friday night.

The incident was viewed by security forces as an attempt for show of supremacy by the newly formed Andhra-Chhatishgarh Border (ACB) division of Maoists.

Earlier, it was known as Andhra-Orissa-Boarder (AOB) division and with Sabyasachi Panda commanding influence.

However, with reported diminishing influence of Sabyasachi Panda, Chhatishgarh and Andhra Pradesh cadres have since become powerful and bent on isolating Odisha rebels, sources said.