Gaya: Suspected Maoists attacked the base camp of an agency engaged in the construction of the 2,500-km long Jagdishpur-Haldia natural gas pipeline and set on fire at least four heavy vehicles in Gaya district late on Friday night.

Police said heavily armed squad members of the banned Naxalite outfit descended on the agency's camp office located at Darna village under the jurisdiction of Amas police station and torched four vehicles parked on its premises.

Darna village is about 70km south-west of Gaya and 150km from Patna.

Inspector-general (Patna zone) Nayyar Hasnain Khan said the red rebels thrashed a few employees who were present in the office. "An investigation has been launched to nab the Maoists involved in the incident," he said, adding that the Gaya City SP had been asked to submit a report on the incident and follow up action at the earliest.

The denial of extortion money is stated to be the reason behind the incident.