Naxals burns truck near mine in Maharashtra

Naxals allegedly burnt a truck near a mine in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district, but there no casualty, police said Monday. The incident took place around 10.30 pm on Sunday in Hedri village, located around10 km from an iron ore mining site at Surajgarh in Etapalli tehsil of Gadchiroli, Additional Superintendent of Police Mahendra Pandit told PTI.

"The truck had broken down at the spot a few days back. The contractor concerned was asked to remove the vehicle, but it kept lying there," he said. The truck was partly burnt on Sunday night, he said, adding it was suspected to be the handiwork of Naxals. According to police, Naxals had burnt around 14 vehicles belonging to a road contractor in Etapalli tehsil last Friday.

The ultras have been observing the 'People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) Week' since Sunday. Since 2000, the 'PLGA week' is observed annually by Naxals between December 2 and 8 in the memory of their slain leaders and cadre.

According to police, Naxals hold meetings and gatherings during this period and engage in propaganda, recruit new members, review operations, besides resorting to damaging roads, public property and carrying out attacks on security forces.

(With inputs from agencies.)