Maoists blow up school building in Orissa

Armed Maoists have blown up a newly constructed tribal school building in Malkangiri district by triggering a landmine blast, police said today.

About 60 heavily armed rebels stormed into Gamphagonda in Kalimela area, about 35 km from Malkanagiri late last night and triggered a landmine blast to blow up the two-storey school building for tribal students, the police said.

After demolishing the building, the ultras disappeared into nearby forest shouting slogans to protest against killing of four Maoists in an encounter in the district last week.

Security personnel were sent to the area to conduct combing and patrolling, the police said.

The Maoists have been targetting government structures like school and panchayat buildings which are being used for accomodating the security forces undertaking anti-naxal operation in the region, they said.

About a dozen buildings including schools and panchayat offices have been destroyed by the ultras during the last four months in Malkangiri district, they said.

In another incident, the Maoists paralysed vehicular movement on Jeypore-Malkangiri road by felling trees on Gobindpalli ghat, police said.