Tanahun, March 19:

A group of armed Maoists set ablaze two tankers and vandalised another at Belbhanjyang of Ghansikuwa VDC on Damauli-Dumre section of the Prithvi Highway this morning.

The first two tankers were bound for Jyamire of Chitwan and the third for Devdaha of Nawalparasi from Pokhara, all to collect milk. All the tankers belong to Pokhara-based Sujal Food Pvt Ltd. The Maoists forced the drivers out of the tankers before setting them ablaze by spraying diesel over them, eyewitnesses said. The Maoists fled after the incident.

The tankers were still burning when a group of journalists reached the incident spot. The fire from the tankers had also spread to the nearby jungle.

The Maoists also placed obstructions on a road section here, following which many vehicles and thousands of passengers had been stranded at Ghansikuwa VDC since this morning. Security forces brought the fire under control and cleared the road, security sources said.