Demanding higher wages, Maoists set afire

NUAPADA: Demanding higher wages for kendu leaf pluckers and other workers, Maoists on Tuesday set ablaze two collection centres (Paharighars) in Khariar kendu leaf division.The centres were located at Badbanki and Sanbanki under Tureikela block of adjoining Balangir district.While the ‘Paharighars’ in Badbanki had 1,54,100 bundles of kendu leaves worth Rs 61,640, the one in Sanbanki had 3,01,250 bundles worth Rs1,20,500.Sources said slogan-shouting ultras raided the ‘Paharighars’, asked people to leave the place and set them on fire. No one was, however, harmed.While leaving the place, they claimed to be members of CPI (Maoist) of Bargarh-Balangir and Mahasamund divisional committee, and put up posters nearby which demanded upward revision in wages for kendu leaf pluckers.Other demands included a hike in the price of one ‘phadi’ (a packet containing 40 pieces of kendu leaves) from 40 paise to Rs 1 and increase in the wage of watchers from present Rs3,000 to Rs 5,000 and that of  ‘Gochakatas’ (cleaners of forest areas before plucking the leaves) from Rs 100 to Rs 150 per day.