Maoists owing allegiance to Revolutionary Communist Centre ( RCC ), splinter group of CPI (Maoist), raided the camp office of a private road construction company located in Belaganj police station area of the district shortly before midnight on Tuesday. The heavily armed Maoists numbering more than a dozen made the company staff captive at gun-point.
The Maoists, according to sources, torched several machines including four heavy duty material carriers, two pay loaders, a diesel tanker and three bikes. “The rebels demanded Rs 5 crore as protection money from the company engaged in road construction in the region. Refusal of the company to pay protection money to the Maoists apparently angered them,” said sources. However, the captive employees were released after the equipment were set afire.