Maoists torch seven vehicles at lake desilting site in Munger.

Kharagpur sub-divional police officer Sanjeev Kumar said adequate security would be provided at the site to resume desilting work, which has to be complteted before onset of monsoon.

Maoists torched seven vehicles including a two-wheeler at Kharagpur lake desilting site in Munger. The state government has recently started desilting work of the lake that supplies water to various canals for irrigating fields in over 200 villages. The cost of the work has been set at Rs 86 crore.

Kharagpur police said the incident took place on intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday when ultras, who had been allegedly demanding levy from the contractor for working on a government project, reached the desilting site of Kharagpur lake and torched three tankers, three trucks and a motorcycle.

Kharagpur sub-divional police officer Sanjeev Kumar said adequate security would be provided at the site to resume desilting work, which has to be complteted before onset of monsoon.

No one from the construction company was pressent at the site when the incident took place. The police, however, had not received any levy complaint from the construction company, which has been given the contract by water resources ministry. Though Munger Lok Sabha constituency is currently represented by LJP leader Vina Devi, water resources minister and JD (U) leader Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh also represented the constituency once.

Kharagpur in Munger has been a Naxal-infested area. Then Munger SP K Suresh Babu and four policemen were killed in 2005 at adjoining Laxmipur forests, once known for hideouts of Maoists