Maoists torch road construction machines in Gaya

Gaya, July 20 (ANI): A group of Maoists set ablaze two road construction machines including a JCB excavator in Gaya on Sunday.

The incident happened in Atri and Wajirganj regions of Gaya, said an official.

"Labourers were working using JCB machine yesterday (July 19) night around 7:30 pm in Ukhri village that comes under jurisdiction of Atri police station. At the same time some unidentified armed men came who forced the work to be stopped and torched the JCB machine," said Vijay Kumar Gupta , Station House Officer (SHO), Wajirganj police station.

The machines belonged to a private construction company. Reportedly, machines were torched, as the owner of the construction company didn't pay ransom to Maoists.

The company is engaged in construction of a road for a local route for the last two years.

The government banned the Communist Party of India (Maoist-Leninist) last month, but experts say the ban will have little impact in the battle against the rebels. (ANI)