Maoists blow up forest guest house in West Singhbhum

Jamshedpur: Suspected Maoist operatives blew up a forest department’s guest house at Barkela in West Singhbhum’s Chaibasa area late on Saturday night. Police said a Maoist squad comprising nearly 100 rebels used improvised explosive devices and LPG cylinders to blow up the double-storey building. Two vehicles, including a car and a bike, were charred during the arson.
"We suspect the role of Maoist leaders — especially, Budhram and Ajay Mahato — behind the crime," Chaibasa DSP Amar Pandey said.
The rebels reportedly put up posters before fleeing the spot. In the posters, the Maoists opposed construction of the guest house in the forest area and claimed that the forest land belongs to villagers living in the area and the government has no right to construct the guest house.
Notably, Maoists have increased their offensive in the mineral-rich district over the past few months after security forces cracked down on them. Over 25 members of CPI (Maoist) and PLFI have been arrested and five have been killed in the past six months. Police sources said the plan to set up a picket in the area has annoyed the Maoists, who are now indulging in violent activities.