Maoists raided a crusher unit owned by a construction company in Nuapada district and set ablaze 15 vehicles including trucks, dumpers, JCB machines and vans, while in Sundargarh district, the Red rebels shot at a truck driver and injured him before setting on fire a truck loaded with rice.
The incident in Nuapada happened at Chhatrang on the border of Nuapada and Bolangir, under Khariar police station limits where a 40-strong group struck all off a sudden and asked the workers to stay before torching the vehicles. The vehicles included eight dumpers, five tractors, a trawler and a van, SDPO SB Satpathy said.
The Maoists put up posters at the site protesting low wages being paid to the workers and warning against supply of water from Tikhali irrigation project to industrial units.
In Sundargarh district, suspected Maoists shot at and injured a truck driver and set ablaze the rice-loaded vehicle near Saranda forest bordering Jharkhand on Saturday night, according to police.
Armed ultras, also suspected to be members of the Jharkhand Liberation Tigers, attacked the truck and opened fire in Sorada area under Bisra police limits on late Saturday night. The attackers fled the scene after setting the truck ablaze, while the driver, Mohd Bablu, was admitted to Ispat General Hospital in Rourkela with bullet injuries.
Security forces were rushed to the area and efforts were on to trace the attackers.
In Malkangiri district, a Maoist camp was demolished and weapons seized by the BSF jawans and police after they raided a rebel camp in Similipadar forest of Badapada in Chitrakonda area of Malkangiri, Chitrakonda IIC Debasish Mishra said.
The ultras present in the camp disappeared into dense forests. However, three guns, some explosives and fuse wires used in land mines were recovered from the spot. Volumes of Maoist literature and medicines were also seized, Mishra said.
Combing operation was stepped up in the area following the incident.
