Maoists torch earth-moving machine in Bihar village - India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

Maoist rebels set ablaze an earthmoving machine of a road construction company at Sonho village in Bihar’s Chapra district on Saturday night. The Maoists resorted to arson since the engineers and other staff refused to pay two percent levy demanded by them. Reportedly, the armed rebels numbering around 400 attacked the office of JKM constructions and without harming any of the staff members, who were held as hostages, the Maoists set on fire the vehicles used for road construction. "They (Maoists) came and made us hostages, then they asked the staff to switch off the lights. They tied the hands of the staff and then seized our mobiles. They asked us not to move and told us that they will not harm us, and they will do what they want to do and then go way," Vedprakash, supervisor, JKM construction company. The rebels told the company staff their action was a consequence of non-fulfilment of their demands made in the past. "They said that we did not fulfil our demands. Further, they asked us to inform our officials that a bill which had been issued for 2 percent levy will have to be paid," Vedprakash added. Maoist attacks have become more frequent this year, especially after the government launched a coordinated security offensive involving tens of thousands of police and paramilitary personnel trying to flush out the rebels from their jungle hideouts in different States.