Patna, Jan. 11: Suspected Maoists abducted three labourers of a private construction company after torching five earthmoving machines at two places in Sitamarhi district last night.

Police said about 25 armed men raided the construction site of Rajendra Singh and Brothers Construction (Private) Ltd Company at Maniari on Sitamarhi-Riga Road around 10.30pm and held the labourers captive.

The rebels also fired in the air and hurled bombs to terrorise the residents, who could not muster courage to challenge them. The guerrillas later escaped from the area with three labourers. They also left pamphlets demanding money from the owner of the company.

The abducted labourers were identified as Ram Lal Mahto, a resident of Purnahiya in Sheohar, Harendra Singh of Musahari in Muzaffarpur and Shishupal Yadav of Runnisaidpur in Sitamarhi district.

Another group of Maoists attacked the camp office of the same company at Kataujha under Runnisaidpur police station. The rebels assaulted the company’s driver, Sitaram, and torched a JCB machine. They threatened the proprietor of the firm with dire consequences if he did not fulfil their extortion demand.

Sitamarhi superintendent of police Vivek Kumar said a joint team of cops from Sitamarhi and Sheohar conducted raids at various hideouts of the Maoists to rescue the abducted trio. “No one has been arrested so far,” he added.