Bhubaneswar, Jul 5 (IANS): Maoist rebels Tuesday set ablaze a construction machine in Orissa's Malkangiri district after a contractor resumed road work despite their objection, police said.
About 20-30 armed guerrillas raided the construction site near Malkangiri Potteru village, about 700 km from here, and set the machine on fire.
"The incident took place when no worker was at the site," District Superintendent of Police Anirudh Singh told IANS.
Police said the rebels earlier threatened the contractor to stop the road work. They were angry after the work was resumed at the site Monday.
The Maoists are active in more than half of Orissa. Malkangiri district is considered one of the strongholds of the rebels.
The guerrillas have been targeting government buildings, roads and bridges in the district apparently to stop the movement of security forces in the area, police said.