Maoists set two panchayat offices on fire in Midnapore

Lalgarh, Nov 18 (UNI) Maoists today set on fire the Baita Panchayat office under Lalgarh police station in West Midnapore district causing extensive damage.

The attack followed yesterday's landmine blast at Bhulaveda village under Belpahari police station by the proscribed group in which the panchayat office was gutted.

District Magistrate N S Nigam here said about 12 masked men snatched away the office keys from the watchman and set ablaze the building by pouring petrol on it.

All important documents relating to 100 days' Compulsory Work Programme of the government, including those of the Rural Level Employment Guarantee scheme, besides, computers and furniture were charred.

The militants fled under the cover of darkness in the wee hours into the Lalgarh forest, police said.

However, Superintendent of Police R Rajashekharan suspected the hand of Jharkhand Party members as both the panchayat offices were ruled by them and there were serious allegations of financial irregularities.

UNI