Red Alert: Maoists Trigger Serial Attacks in Orissa

Maoist rebels on Thursday triggered over a dozen concerted explosions — damaging railway tracks and police stations, torched vehicles and looted arms during the day-long bandh, called by them, in the Sundargarh district of Orissa.

Media reports citing police sources expressed concerns over the safety of five railway employees, from the Topadihi station, suspected to have been abducted by the Maoists.

Groups comprising of armed rebels struck at various places in the wee hours of Thursday to enforce the bandh called to protest the arrest of some 30 alleged Maoist operatives.

The Rourkela-Barsuan single railway line was blasted at eight places between Bimlagarh and Patsai paralysing train services on the route, said PTI citing the local police.

The rebels blew up a police outpost in Kalta and the Koida police station besides triggering explosions at two abandoned CRPF camps.

Two CITU offices, a village community centre and Durga puja pandals were also reportedly bombed at Kalta, Koida and Toda villages.