Maoists trigger landmine blasts in Malkangiri

Malkangiri (PTI): Maoists triggered a landmine blast on the last day of their four-day bandh in Orissa's Malkangiri district on Saturday against alleged police excesses.
Police said the landmine, laid by the ultras, exploded at Kosalkkonda on the state highway in Kalimela area, about 35 km from here.
However, no one was injured in the incident.
The naxalites also resorted to road blockade in several places in the tribal-dominated district in a bid to enforce bandh by digging roads, cutting trees and placing boulders, affecting movement of vehicles and public transport on importrant routes, sources said.
Banners and posters put up by the ultras bearing the name of CPI (Maoist) were found at some places, while police also seized explosives from different areas.
The banners said bandh was being observed since May 21 in the naxal-hit district seeking a halt to combing operations by security forces, accusing them of killing innocent people in the name of encounters.
The posters alleged that innocent tribals were being killed in the name of 'joint operation against Maoists by Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Chhatisgarh police.'
Police said "patrolling in these areas have been intensified and efforts were on to restore road communication."