Naxals blast landmine on State highway

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Source: The Hindu (http://www.hinduonnet.com/2010/04/30/stories/2010043052230300.htm)
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Orissa
  

Naxals blast landmine on State highway


Staff Reporter



Authorities initiate steps to repair the road



Blast creates a large hole on the road having depth of around five feetOSRTC stops plying of buses in view of naxal bandh call


BERHAMPUR: Maoists made a landmine blast on State highway near Laxmipur to snap road communication of Koraput with other districts of the State on Wednesday night.
Police administration took immediate steps to repair and make the road ready for traffic on Thursday. The personnel of the Border Security Force (BSF) started combing operation in the area to track down the naxals involved in the blast.
This landmine blast was part of the continuing weeklong bandh of Maoists in south Orissa since April 24. According to police sources the place where the blast occurred was located between Tayaput and Laxmipur on the Koraput-Rayagada state highway. The blast occurred at around 7.30 pm. As there was no vehicular traffic on this road due to the naxal bandh, no one was injured. Police took caution not to reach the spot at night as it was raining and there were chances of ambush by naxals as the spot happens to be a ghat road inside jungle.
Inspection of the spot on Thursday morning revealed that the blast had created a large hole on the road having depth of around five feet. The wires from the blast site lead to a place more than 300 meters from the spot.
This road is now under construction and it was suspected that naxals had planted this powerful explosive under the road to target the security personnel. But the blast may have occurred due to some technical snag caused due to rain and wind. Luckily no one became victim.
Panic of naxal violence has put Koraput and Malkangiri districts under seize during their week long bandh call, while it has got much impact on Rayagada and Gajapati districts. The Orissa State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC) has stopped plying buses in naxal-infested south Orissa during the bandh.
The OSRTC buses remained off roads in Phulbani-Paralakhemundi, Mohana-Rayagada-Gajapati, Jeypore-Motu, Jeypore-Baipariguda-Kosagumuda and Jeypore-Machakund routes.
In most Koraput, Malkangiri, Rayagada and Gajapati districts private bus owners have also suspended bus services due to naxal threat.






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