Bolangir: A Kendu leaves storehouse at Barkani village under Sadar police limits in this district was reportedly set on fire by Maoists Sunday.
The matter came to the fore after the police recovered a Maoist poster from a tree near the storehouse while dousing the flames. A case has been registered and a probe to the incident has been launched.
“We are not sure if it is the handiwork of Maoists. But, a Maoist poster has been seized and a probe is on,” Sadar IIC Jyotirmayee Bhucha said.
Kendu leaf range officer Mohan Ranjan Pandiya and forester reached the spot and launched a probe. Luckily, the kendu leaves stock was already shifted to the central godown, the officials said, adding only the storehouse was gutted.
The incident occurred in broad daylight. Locals spotted flames arising from the storehouse and alerted the kendu leaf department officials and the police. Fire brigade doused the flames and brought the situation under control.
The Maoist poster accused the kendu leaf DFO and ranger of indulging in ‘corrupt practices’. It also added that the construction of kendu leaf storehouses was incomplete and warned of further violence if steps were not taken to ‘stop corruption’.
This has come at a time when incidents of Kendu leaves smuggling were reported from the area. A team of smugglers were earlier arrested from Bolangir railway station while transporting kendu leaves to Kolkata, according to reports. PNN