After a brief lull, a case of a JCB and Mixture machines being setting afire was reported from Maoist-infested Birni block in Giridih district on Friday night. However, the Giridih police are yet to figure out whether the Maoists are involved in the act or not.

According to sources, a sub-contractor was using the JCB machine in road construction works in the remote pockets of the district.

According to locals, the hand of Maoists cannot be ruled out as they have been opposing all sorts of developmental works in the remote areas of this district.

Meanwhile, the sub-contractor has lodged a report with the police on the basis of which the police have launched an investigation. The incident was reported at around 10 pm on Friday night. 

According to the information, Maoists came in number of 15 equipped with arms. One of them was in a naxal uniform and the rest were in simple clothes.

 The Maoists, who came late in the night, first took the Munshi of construction work into their capture and also beat him up.  After this, the Maoists also beat up some other workers.

 According to the information, all the workers were living in temporary rooms at the site.  The cause of the fire in JCB, mixure machines and bike has come in the form of non-levy by the contractor. 

However, it has not been clear whether the Maoists had comminucated earlier to the contractor for levy or not. SDPO of the area, Vinod Mahato and Birni police station in-charge reached the spot late night a few hours after getting the information and inquired about the whole matter.

 However, this is the second incident of Maoists setting on fire machines in any government planning site within two months. 

This was first carried out by the Maoists in Dumri itself.  It is being told that Maoists carried out the incident in Dharampur village of Birni.  The bridge construction work was being done by the Road Division there.  The scheme of the road division was carried out by contractor Dilip Rai.  After the incident, Birni police is now a checker and is continuously raiding the arrest of Maoists.