Balaghat, June 15 (IANS): Forest officials were assaulted and five trucks carrying bamboo were burnt down by militants in Madhya Pradesh's Balaghat district, police said on Wednesday.

At least five trucks from Dhiri Murum area were stopped and set ablaze by militants late on Tuesday, Balaghat district Inspector General of Police D.C. Sagar told IANS.

According to the militants, the forest officials refused to provide food grain and ingredients demanded by them, which led to the confrontation and then the incident.

At least 15-17 militants first assaulted the forest officials and then set fire to the bamboo-laden trucks after breaking the diesel tanks of the vehicles, an eye-witness named Sona Bai told the reporters.

The incident took place in a forest area, Sagar said.

The police have stepped up search operations in the area after the incident to arrest the alleged attackers.

The state police has been trying to construct a police station in the Balaghat area, which is connected with Rajnand village of Chhattisgarh and Gondiya area of Maharashtra, so that action against militants can be taken on time.

Militant activities are on rise in Balaghat district of the state. Earlier, a man, suspected of passing information to the police, was killed by the militants in the area.

Also, recently a truck and two JCB machines were set on fire by the militants.