Maoists Set Ablaze Steel Company’s Guesthouse in Orissa

A guest house of a private steel company was set ablaze on Wednesday by Maoists in Malkangiri district of Orissa as two-day state-wide bandh called by them paralysed normal life in the southern region of the state.

District SP Satyabrata Bhoi said that nearly 50 armed rebels attacked the guest house of a steel company at Gajiagoda in Chitrakonda area of Malkangiri around midnight and set it on fire.

He said that rebels attacked the guard of the guest house and then stormed into the building. They also bashed up two company engineers and locked them up in a close-by house. Both engineers were rescued this morning.

In the meanwhile, on the first day of the two-day state-wide bandh called by Maoists affected normal life in Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada and Gajapati districts.

Maoists have called the bandh to protest the Centre’s decision to launch offensive against them and alleged police excesses, police sources said.