Armed Maoists blew up a panchayat building and a godown in Orissa's Malkangiri district early today, police said.

Around 50 gun-totting rebels stormed into Mandapalli under Kalimela police station area, about 65 km from here, in the wee hours and triggered a landmine blast at the panchayat building and a godown nearby.

The ultras disappeared in the nearby forest after the swift attack raising slogans against anti-Maoist operations by security forces, they said.

The attack was apparently an attempt to destroy places which are likely to be utilised to accommodate security forces during anti-Maoist operations in the region, police said adding the rebels had destroyed or damaged many government buildings including panchayat offices in last six months.

Security personnel in strength have rushed to the site to conduct combing operation and patrolling in and around the area, they said.