Maoists torch resthouse in Chhattisgarh

RAIPUR - Maoist rebels set ablaze a forest department resthouse in Chhattisgarh’s violence-hit Bastar region Saturday but there were no casualties, police said. The ultras also disrupted bus services in the region.

Roughly 100 rebels set the resthouse on fire in the Mader area in Bijapur district and disrupted bus service across the 40,000 sq km Bastar region on the first day of their week-long celebrations of ‘Jan Pituri’ (Revolutionary Week).

After torching the resthouse, the rebels left pamphlets asking people to observe ‘Jan Pituri’ and stay away from joining the security forces, an officer at the police headquarters told IANS.

The bus services were disrupted across the Bastar region that is made up of five districts - Narayanpur, Bijapur, Kanker, Bastar and Dantewada.

Bus operators kept their vehicles off the roads, including from National Highway-221 in Dantewada and National Highway-16 in Bijapur, fearing attacks by the rebels.

About 2,000 people have been killed Maoist related violence in the state since it came into existence in November 2000. The casualties include nearly 1,000 civilians and 650 policemen.