BHUBANESWAR: Despite heightened security in view of the ongoing general elections, seven armed Maoists allegedly looted and vandalised the Banigochha Forest Range office near Daspalla police station in the district late on Tuesday night.
According to sources, the ultras took away four guns, seven mobile phones and caused huge damage to the office.
“The armed Maoists entered into the village and asked me about guns. When I refused to cooperate, they dragged me into the forest office premises. Later they vandalised the office premises and decamped with four guns,” said forester Hemanta Kumar Kandi.
“A group of seven Maoists including three females entered into our village and threatened me before barging into my house. They looted mobile phones from my house,” said an eyewitness, Gouribala Kandi.
The forest authorities have lodged a complaint in connection with the incident at Daspalla police station.
Inspector Biswajit Routray said that probe had been initiated.
In 2008, Naxalites had killed 14 people, including 13 policemen, besides injuring 10 others and looting Nayagarh district armoury after virtually laying siege to the police training school, Nayagarh and Daspalla police stations.
