Raipur, Chhattisgarh:
Naxals torched 26 vehicles at an iron ore mine in Chhattisgarh's Kanker district, the action coming after they had targeted a private operator's bus in Bijapur district last night, police said. Nobody was injured in these incidents, police added.
A group of armed Naxals raided the Chargaon iron ore mine in the Siksod police station area on Friday morning and, after threatening and asking the labourers and drivers to clear out, torched 26 vehicles that were in service at the site, Kanker SP Jitendera Singh Meena told news agency PTI.
After torching the vehicles -- 24 trucks and 2 tippers -- the Maoists fled into the forest, he said.
A police team was immediately rushed to the spot and a search operation has been launched in the area to nab the ultras, the SP added.
Maoists are reportedly opposed to iron ore mining in the area by a particular company. Four officials of the company, including a general manager, were kidnapped by Naxals on April 1 this year from Chargaon iron ore reserve. They were released the same day.
On Thursday night, in Bijapur district, the Naxals set ablaze a bus after asking its passengers to alight.
The incident occurred near Dudheda village under Madded police station limits when the bus, run by a private operator, was on its way to Bhopalpatnam from Jagdalpur district headquarters, a senior police official said.
Naxals also fired at another passenger bus on the same route, but no one was injured in the two incidents.
Before fleeing, the ultras threw some pamphlets accusing police of not producing one of their arrested colleagues in court, the official said.
On October 25, Naxals had set ablaze at least 37 vehicles and machines engaged in road construction work in Bijapur district.