From correspondents in Orissa, India, 09:30 AM IST

Maoist rebels blew up a police station after forcing policemen out of the premises and torched several vehicles in Orissa's Koraput district, an official said Monday.

Five policemen were on duty when around 70 Maoists attacked the police station in Baipariguda village, about 550 km from here, Sunday night.

'The rebels overpowered the policemen, forced them out and blew up the building,' Deputy Inspector General of Police Sanjeev Panda told IANS.

'They also blew up a police outpost near by, ransacked the local forest office and set fire to nearly seven vehicles, including two police Jeeps,' he added.

However, no one was killed or injured in the attack. The guerrillas later escaped to the nearby forest.

The Maoists left leaflets and posters at the site that claimed the attack was carried out to protest the killing of one of their leaders by the police in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.

Panda said additional police force were sent to the area and a combing operation has been launched.

More then half of Orissa's 30 districts are affected by Maoist insurgency.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)