Maoists destroy key road in Chhattisgarh

RAIPUR: Maoist guerrillas have dug up a key cemented road, constructed only last year, at 12 different places in Chhattisgarh's Bastar region, police said Friday.

The guerrillas Thursday night dug ditches at 12 locations within a one km area on the Bijapur-Gangloor Road, TJ Longkumer, inspector general of police, Bastar, told IANS.

The damage was done at a forested stretch near Bijapur district's Ponjer village, a Maoist stronghold.

According to Longkumer, the 24 km long Bijapur-Gangloor cemented road was constructed only last year at a cost of Rs.22 crore. Now, the Ponjer stretch of the road is in such a bad shape that people can't even ride a cycle on it.

Officials at the police headquarters added that Maoists had destroyed the road to deny police and paramilitary access to Ponjer and its adjoining forested belts for combing operations.