By IANS
Keonjhar (Orissa) : Maoist rebels in Orissa attacked a camp set up for a mining survey in the mineral-rich Keonjhar district, torched the government officials’ vehicle and a few machines, police said Tuesday.
Over a dozen Maoists Monday evening attacked the camp set up by the Geological Survey of India at Ghuduma village under Daitary police station, over 300 km from state capital Bhubaneswar, district police chief Yatindra Koyel told IANS.
They also attacked the officials, torched a jeep, one survey machine and a drilling machine, he said.
Tribals living in the area, which falls in the Rebana Reserve Forest, have for long been opposing mining operations in the region and the survey being conducted.
Supporting the villagers, Maoists had threatened the guard of the survey camp Sunday evening, demanding that the drilling and other machines be taken away from the area or else they would be burnt.
On Monday, when employees of the Geological Survey of India reached the spot, the rebels entered the camp and assaulted the officials. They then burnt a jeep, and the machines.
Koyal said that none of the survey officials were badly hurt and that the incident was being probed.
Maoists are active in 11 of Orissa’s 30 districts, including Keonjhar.