Maoists set trucks ablaze

The Maoists set three trucks ablaze on Monday as the vehicles were plying through state highway violating their 24-hour all-India strike call.

Two trucks were set ablaze at Purnapani near Lalgarh and one at Lalbridge near Guptamanipur in West Midnapore. A driver sustained burn injuries and has been taken to the Sub Divisional hospital, said Manoj Verma,SP,West Midnapore.

A senior police officer said the driver,Ajoy Kumar Giri,belonged to one of the trucks set ablaze near Purnapani forest in the morning. While he was trying to douse the fire and scream for help,the Maoists forcibly pushed him into the fire and fled. He has been admitted to Jhargram sub-divisional hospital with severe burn injuries.

Around 50 armed Maoists cadres had intercepted the trucks plying on the highway ignoring their 24-hour shutdown diktat,an officer said. They forced the drivers and helpers to get off and then set fire to the vehicles. When a truck driver argued with them,they dumped him with the burning truck.

After being informed about the incident at Purnapari,security forces rushed to the spot but the Maoists fled before they arrived. In Guptamani,the security personnel chased the Maoists but were not able to arrest any,police said.

A police picket has been set up along the state highway that passes through the Maoist-affected Jhargram sub-division.

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