Maoists blow up guest house in Orissa

Bhubaneswar, Nov 4 : Maoists blew up a guest house of a private company during a two-day strike at Chitrakonda of Malkangiri district in Orissa, police said Wednesday.

Maoists have called a two-day strike starting Tuesday in Malkangiri, Koraput and Rayagada districts 'to protest against the deployment of forces in these districts'.

Some armed Maoists came late Tuesday and triggered a land mine at the guest house of Essar Steel and partially damaged it.

"Some Maoists triggered a land mine in the guest house of Essar Steel late at night. The guest house has been partially damaged. They have also destroyed office furniture," Superintendent of Police Satyabrat Bhoi said.

There were some reports that two engineers of the company have been abducted following the attack, but police have denied the reports.

"It is a rumour. Earlier there was information that two engineers have been abducted. We have checked and have found that it is a rumour," Bhoi added.

Maoist guerrillas have pasted posters at several places and are appealing to people to support the strike. They have also blocked roads at several places in Malkangiri district, about 600 km from here.