Maoists set fire to three railway engines in Orissa

Rourkela, Oct 15 (UNI) The Maoists set fire to three railway engines and snatched away VHF (very high frequency) sets from the guards at Tupardihi railway station under Kbalang police station, in the wee hours today.

The Maoists had also called for Orissa-Jharkhand-Bihar bandh yesterday demanding unconditional release of MCC area commander, Sobha alias Budhuni Marandi and her two associates, arrested from Ramjodi under Lathikata police station of Rourkela police district on October 7 last.

Official sources said though a police team was camping at Kbalang apprehending trouble during the bandh, additional police force was rushed to the spot soon after the snatching and arsons.

Police said since the Tapardihi railway station was closed to the Saranda Jungle in neighbouring Jharkhand, the Maoists' rebels managed to flee to the dense forest after setting fire to the railway engines. No railway official was injured in the incident, Sundasrgarh Superintendent of Police S.Saini said.

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