Kolkata/Ranchi/ Raipur: Maoists blew up a
road bridge in Jharkhand, torched a CPI(M) office and set off
a blast near a railway track in West Bengal in a violent start
to the 48-hour bandh called by them in seven states demanding
an end to security operations.
Normal life was affected mostly in rural areas of
Jharkhand, Bihar, Orissa, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Andhra
Pradesh and three districts of Maharashtra even as authorities
stepped up security to thwart attacks by Maoists.
The ultras triggered a blast near a railway track at
Bhalukhunia between Midnapore and Godapia Sal stations in
Bengal's West Midnapore district early today which disrupted
train services for three hours.
Over 20 Maoists stormed Bagjhappa village in the
district and set ablaze a CPI(M) office late last night. Two
CPI(M) supporters were also beaten up by the group following
which they were admitted to a hospital at Jhargram. The houses
of two party supporters were also set afire in Chakua village.
In Jharkahnd, Maoists triggered a landmine blast
blowing up a road bridge between Raipahari and Kurlisuta
villages in Jharkhand's Ghatsila sub-division.
Maoist posters asking the security forces to stop the
operation against them were seized by police at Dumuria
village bordering Jharkhand
"Through such incidents, the Maoists are trying to
divert the attention of the combined forces engaged in the
combing operation to flush out the Maoists from the
Jangalmahal area", District Magistrate N S Nigam said.
The bandh did not affect normal life in the urban
pockets of Ranchi, Jamshedpur and Dhanbad though the shutdown
was total in rural areas of Gumla, Khunti, Bokaro, Chatra,
East and West Singhbhum, Palamau and Latehar districts.
Majority of shops and markets downed their shutters
and long distance buses remained off the road in these areas.
Commercial vehicles were plying in depleted strength in the
rural pockets of naxal-affected areas.
Railway services between Garwah Road-Barkakhana route
under Dhanbad division of East Central Railway were also
affected as several trains were cancelled or diverted in view
of the bandh, railway sources said.
Officials said that transport of minerals was
affected in several areas of Latehar, Bokaro and Gumla
districts as truck operators suspended services to avoid
untoward incidents.
Apart from the state police force, para-military
forces and Railway Protection Force have been deployed to
protect vital installations, the sources said.
In Orissa, the bandh had a mixed response in the
southern districts of Koraput, Rayagada, Nabarangpur and
Malkangiri. Vehicular movement was hit in the naxal-affected
districts of Malkangiri, Koraput, Sundargarh, Gajapati and
Rayagada with the rebels blocking roads by felling trees and
placing boulders.
Electricity supply was disrupted in most parts of
Malkangiri district as huge trees cut by Maoists snapped
transmission lines.
The ultras burnt tyres and put up posters at Roxy
town in support of their bandh call.
Normal life in Roxy, Kalta, Koida and K Balang was
affected following closure of shops and other small business
establishments.
In Chhattisgarh, public transport was affected in the
interior regions of the state. According to senior police
officials, additional personnel have been deployed in
Naxal-affected and bordering areas of the state.
Police teams have been deployed at railway stations,
bus stands and other crowded places. Besides, vehicles are
being searched to avoid any untoward incident, they said.
According to sources in Bastar district, a naxal
hotbed, most of the shop-owners preferred to down the
shutters.
Heavy deployment of police has been made along the
Andhra Pradesh-Orissa border and combing operations
intensified.
"The bandh has been incident free so far in
Visakhapatnam district. We have pumped in required forces to
ensure safety of people and also public property," SP Vineet
Brij Lal said.
Apart from Visakhapatnam, heavy police force has been
deployed in Srikakulam and Vizianagaram in Andhra
Pradesh-Orissa border. Combing and frisking have been
intensified in the bordering areas in view of the bandh,
police sources.
-PTI
First Published: Monday, March 22, 2010, 23:09