Wednesday, February 9 2005 15:38 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Sambalpur (Orissa): Suspected MCC (Maoist Communist Centre) activists allegedly kidnapped at least 19 labourers at gun-point after raiding two labour camps at Phulkusuma and Podanala villages under Kisinda police station in Sambalpur district today (Feb 9, 2005), police said.

About 40 armed MCC cadres stormed in the early hours the camps where the labourers were staying and abducted them, Susant Kumar Nath, the Sambalpur police super said.

However, they later released four of them while holding the rest of them captive, Nath said.

The men were engaged in construction of a road under the Pradhanmantri Gram Sarak Yojna.

The ultras also burnt down a machine worth about Rs 1 crore and used for construction work, he said.

A combing operation has been launched by police in the area to nab the activists, the SP said adding that he was rushing to the area with reinforcement.

Police suspected that it could be a retaliatory move by the naxals following the arrest of three MCC cadres in connection with kidnapping incidents at Deogarh and Sambalpur districts early this month.