Malkangiri cut off as Maoists explode landmine on key road

Malkangiri (Orissa), Feb 18 (PTI) Maoists todayexploded a landmine on a key road snapping links between thedistrict and the rest of the state.

The explosion took place even as the administrationhas halted anti-Naxal combing operation across Orissa tosecure the release of abducted Malkangiri Collector and anengineer.

In a bid to obstruct movement of security forces, thered rebels triggered the landmine blast in mountainous andforested Malkangiri-Jeypor road, that connects the Naxal-hitdistrict with the rest of Orissa, the police said.

The ultras also brought traffic on the crucial statehighway road to a grinding halt by digging it up at severalplaces and felling a large number of giant trees at over fiveplaces, they said.

No one was injured in the landmine blast as the roadwas deserted and there was no vehicular movement due toobstructions created by the rebels, the police said.

The action by the Maoists came despite efforts by thestate government through mediators to secure the release ofMalkangiri district Collector R V Krishna and junior engineerPabitra Majhi.