Suspected Maoist Communist Centre ultras on Wednesday abducted at least 19 labourers from two camps at Phulkusuma and Podanala villages in Sambalpur district of Orissa, police said.

About 40 armed MCC cadres stormed the camps early in the morning and took away at least 23 men with them, Sambalpur Superintendent of Police Susant Kumar Nath said.

However, they later released four labourers, Nath said.

The men were engaged in construction of a road under the Pradhanmantri Gram Sadak Yojna.

The ultras also damaged a machine worth about Rs 1 crore, he said.

A combing operation has been launched by the police in the area to nab the ultras, the SP said.