"A group of Maoist guerrillas forcibly stopped vehicles on the busy Grand Trunk road in Gaya and torched them post midnight on Sunday to create panic," Gaya Senior Superintendent of Police Manu Maharaj said.

Around two dozen trucks were among the vehicles set on fire. The Maoists are also protesting security forces operation against them, police said.

Poll

Who will win the Punjab Elections?

BJP 32.81%

AAP 42.19%

INC 25.00%

Submit

View All In Poll

The drivers of the burnt vehicles told police officials that Maoist guerrillas asked them to get away from the vehicles before setting them afire.

Taking serious note of the attack, police headquarters in Patna directed the district police to intensify combing operations against Maoists.

Additional security forces have rushed to Gaya, a Maoist-affected area as it shares border with neighbouring Jharkhand, a police official said.

Maoists have given a strike call to protest the killing of a woman Maoist commander in a gun battle with security forces last week.

Bihar Police chief P.K. Thakur told the media that situation was under control and normal in Gaya and other places despite incidents of violence by the Maoists.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has called a meeting of top officials here to take stock of the situation, an official said.