In a pre-dawn attack, Maoists blew up a newly-constructed police outpost building in Orissa’s Malkangiri district today.
About 50 armed ultras stormed the outpost at Salim in Mathili area and triggered a landmine blast to blow up the building after driving away its lone watchman, Superintendent of Police Satyabrata Bhoi said.
The rebels had blown up the old police outpost about three years ago.
Police personnel in strength have been sent to the area and patrolling intensified after the incident which has created panic in nearby villages, police said.
A massive combing operation has also been launched, while the border with Chhattisgarh sealed in a bid to check movement of Maoists, they said.
Meanwhile, in a letter circulated to the press, Malkangiri Divisional Maoist Committee has asked Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to apologise for the police firing at Narayanpatna in Koraput district last month and demanded withdrawal of security force from the area.
It has threatened to eliminate ruling BJD leaders of Malkangiri and Koraput districts if the demand was not fulfilled.
