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Maoists blow up forest office in Orissa
One person was injured as Maoists blew up a forest office at Gajapati district in Orissa where the ultras have called a bandh today.
One person was injured as Maoists blew up a forest office at Gajapati district in Orissa where the ultras have called a bandh today.
A large number of armed Maoists, including women, struck the forest beat office at Paniganda in Adaba area of Gajapati district, about 300 km from here, in early hours and dragged out the guard, Inspector-in-Charge of Adaba police station N Kero said.
They then blew up the building using powerful explosives, he said, adding a villager who arrived at the spot out of curiosity after hearing the noise sustained minor injuries.
The incident took place even as a state-wide bandh was observed in protest against ban on CPI (Maoist) and to demand that the arrested Maoists lodged in various jails be treated as political prisoners.
They also alleged that many people had been arrested on false charges and demanded their release. The ultras put up posters in support of their demands in rural areas of Ganjam, Gajapati and Kandhamal districts, sources said.
Security has been tightened in Naxal-hit districts in southern and western parts to prevent untoward incident.
The bandh has so far little impact in urban centres but evoked mixed response in rural areas, amid closure of shops and thin traffic.
