Maoists torch 5 tractors, a JCB machine in Bargarh

Maoists kill country liquor trader in Balangir

BALANGIR/BARGARH: Prior to the bandh call, the Maoists have showed their strength by torching five tractors and a JCB machine of a contractor at Kalimunda village of Palsada Grama Panchayat under Paikmal block in Bargarh district, 130 km away from here, and killing a country liquor trader in Balangir district on Saturday night.   

According to sources, contractor Sachida Nag of Palsada village had used five tractors and a JCB machine in road construction works at Kalimunda village. More than 20 Maoists came in a group to the contractor’s camp at midnight and burnt the vehicles. While returning, they left some posters that appealed the public to join hands with them and to make their Tuesday’s bandh success.

The Maoists of Balangir, Bargarh and Mahasamund Zonal Committee have given bandh call which would be observed on Tuesday.

The police have started investigating into the incident, though no FIR has been lodged in the police station regarding the matter yet. Recently the Maoists had shaped violence in Paikmal block of the district.

In an another incident, Maoists killed a country liquor trader suspecting him a police informer at a village in Balangir district on Sunday night, the police said. He was identified as Murali Meher (55) of Rengali village under Khaprakhol police station limit in the district.

Around 30 armed Maoists entered into the house of Meher in the night and asked other family members to move out. The ultras, who had earlier asked Meher to stop his liquor business in the area, gunned him down, police said.

The red rebels left a poster at the spot that contains the information about their motive of killing the liquor trader. They stated that Meher was a police informer and he was informing the police about their activities. The ultras also warned in the poster that anyone working as police informer would meet similar fate.

The security forces have started combing operation and patrolling in the area following the incidents, sources said.