Maoists trigger blast in Orissa

Maoists triggered a landmine blast in a forested area of Orissa's Koraput district in the early hours of Thursday, police said.

"They (the rebels) have triggered a blast on a road under Narayanpatna block," Deepak Kumar, district superintendent of police said.

"It is a remote area and details are awaited," he said.

The region is considered a Maoist stronghold, police said. Maoist supporters under the banner of Chasi Mulia Sangha earlier this week forcibly occupied hundreds of acres of farmland of non-tribals in the region by hoisting red flags on the land.

Hundreds of non-tribals have already left their homes in panic as the ultra-supporters unleashed a reign of terror in the area, police said.

The district headquarter of Koraput is located some 500 km from the state capital Bhubaneswar.