During the Dandakaranya bandh called in protest of killing of some of top rebels by security forces in Bijapur a few days back, Maoist insurgents virtually went on the rampage in Dantewada areas Saturday and removed rail track, burnt a pokelane machine working in the mines of National Mineral Development Corporation and choked the Dantewada-Kirandul Road with felling trees. At the same time, Kuankonda thana police also recovered a powerful landmine thwarting the bid of rebels to trigger a major blast.
According to police department sources, around mid night Friday, Maoist rebels removed a rail track in between Kamalur and Bhansi stations with a view to cause major mishap but the alert railway staff detected the damage timely. Now, repairing was in full swing and efforts are being made to clear the route at the earliest.
In another subversive incident, 18-20 armed Maoist insurgents reached excavation site of NMDC Bacheli mines and lit up a pokelane machine after damaging its diesel tank. The pokelane machine was damaged completely in the arson. The rebels also left some pamphlets at the site asking people not to support security forces and observe bandh.
To spread terror among masses, the rebels also felled trees at Nerli Ghat on Dantewada-Kirandul Road hindering traffic on the route for nearly 4 hours which was cleared when large police posse reached the site. In the meantime, police party which had left Kuankonda thana Saturday morning for conducting a routine search operation detected a 5 kg powerful landmine in between Mailawada and Halwaras. The landmine was perhaps laid by ultras to blast police party.