Maoists block road in Maha; cops, poll officers stranded

Reinforcements have been airdashed to Malewada in Armouri constituency of Gadchiroli district where around 25 polling and police personnel are held up after their return routes were blocked by the Maoists.

Director general of Police (incharge of elections) AN Roy said reinforcements in two helicopters were rushed to Malewada to provide security to the stranded personnel, who had been engaged in an exchange of fire with the Naxalites earlier in the day without any damage to either side.

The poll personnel had been fired upon by the Naxals near Malewada leading to a brief encounter. Polling had resumed in the area after being suspended for some time.

However, when the poll personnel were returning after voting had concluded, they found their way blocked as the extremists had dug up the roads and placed logs and trees on them.

"Reinforcements were immediately rushed to keep them out of harm's way and they would now take a decision on when to leave the place keeping in mind the threat from the Naxals," Roy said.

Seventeen policemen were killed in an ambush by the Maoists, who have called a boycott of the elections, near Laheri in the district on October 8.

The Maoists also raided a newly-built block office at Bandhu Bagicha under Chanan police station in the district and set ablaze files and documents.

In Aurangabad in Bihar, the rebels partially destroyed the tower of a private telecom company at Padaiya village in the wee hours, official sources said.