Jharkhand bandh fails to evoke any response

Ranchi, Oct 30 (UNI) The Maoist Communist Centre (MCC)-sponsored 24-hour ''Jharkhand bandh'' to demand release of their leaders jailed in Orissa, Chhatisgarh, Jharkhand and Bihar, failed to evoke any response today.

Director General of Police J B Mahapatra told UNI here that life was not affected following the bandh and no untoward incident was reported from any corner of the state.

He said educational institutions and government establishments remained open and the movement of vehicles was as usual.

Keeping in view the statewide bandh, the Dhanbad railway division of Eastern Central Railway had cancelled nine trains and changed routes of six trains.

Mr Mahapatra said security had been beefed up and strict vigil was being maintained on railway routes to avoid any incident.

However reports from Latehar said loading and unloading of coal and bauxite at Sikni colliery and sidings of Hindalco at Chandwatori were affected in the wake of the bandh.

In Daltonganj two youths were arrested with a revolver and six cartridges.

Suprintendent of Police Udyan Kumar Singh said both were on their way to Daltonganj from Kundri village of Lesliganj, adding one person was identified as Santosh Kumar Verma, a relative of Ravindra Mahto, area commander of MCC.

Mr Singh said Santosh was working as an informer for the banned outfit and used to pass information of police activities to the ultras.

UNI AM SJC VD VC1827