Maoists torch eight vehicles in Latehar involved in road construction work

Latehar: Ultras belonging to CPI Maoists torched eight vehicles and one generator engaged in road construction at Banskarcha under Mahuadanr police station area of Latehar district

The sub-divisional police officer of Mahuadanr Rajesh Kujur has confirmed the incident and said that the act was committed by Maoists, numbering 30 to 40, at Baaskarcha. He said that the maoists were all heavily armed and came on foot. Barely one and a half kilometres away from the site of the arson, there is a security picket, but the Maoists brazenly did the arson without any fear of the security forces at the picket. He said that the Maoists have left behind leaflets through which there is a call for the boycott of the panchayat polls.

The arson was a terror tactic of the Maoists for the extraction of levy from the contractor of the Mini Construction. Contractor, Dilip Pandey said the Maoists had destroyed property worth one crore fifty lakh rupees. According to Pandey, the Maoists set a trailer, two JCB machines, four water tankers, one 407 type vehicle, and one generator on fire. 

The local Congress MLA Ramchander Singh said he had got this 29.3-kilometre road between Kuro Baaskarcha sanctioned by the state road construction department.

The construction work is worth around Rs 82 crores. The foundation of the road was laid barely two and a half months ago. He said this road is vital for the development of the area and such acts of arson defeat the purpose of development.