Maoists torch contractor's vehicles in Jharkhand

Suspected Maoists have set fire to four vehicles and a bike of a contractor and beat up the drivers here for refusing to pay money. Nearly 50 of them went to Piyosokra village, about 75 KM from Ranchilate, late last night and set fire to two dumpers, a road roller, an earth mover and a motorcycle of the contractor, the police said here today.

The police said the Maoists had claimed responsibility for the arson in a note left by them. The Naxalites had also snatched away their cell phones before returning to the nearby forests.

Under the prime minister's Gram Sadak Yozana, the contracor is laying roads from Piosokara to Mamabhagina and Mamabhagina to Lamboi in the district.

In another incident in Palamau, activists of the banned CPI (Maoist) set ablaze to a private mobile tower at Bavardih village under Haidarnagar last night, the police said in Medininagar.