Maoist-sponsored bandh in Bihar unsuccessful

Patna, Oct 30: The CPI (Maoist)-sponsored 24-hour statewide bandh demanding release of their jailed leaders in Jharkhand, Bihar, Orissa and Chhatishgarh evoked lukewarm response in Bihar today.

Barring a few minor incidents, the bandh remaimed peaceful and vehicular traffic on all long routes, National Highways and other roads remained normal.

Train services too remained unaffected.

Business establishments and other institutions functioned as usual during the day.

Sources at the state headquarters said special security arrangements would continue for the next 12 hours and the security personnel had been directed to remain alert during night.

Special vigil was being maintained along the railway tracks keeping in mind the Maoist operations mostly during dead hours.

All vital installations and public places would also remain under strict security umbrella during the night.

Meanwhile, the the Maoists blew up railway tracks in 100 mt near Chamua halt between Narkatiyaganj and Harinagar stations under Samastipur division of East Central Railway following which the engine and five coaches of a passenger train were derailed.

No injury or causalty was, however, reported.

Train services on Narkatiyaganj-Gorakhpur rail route were suspended for a few hours.

The rebels also blew up a government building of forest division at Jhemiri village under Semra police station of West Champaran district last night.

The sources informed that the deployment of additional security forces in the bordering districts would continue and the Seema Suraksha Bal (SSB) personnel deployed on Indo-Nepal border were on a state of high alert to thwart any attempt by Maoists from Nepal to sneak into India.

UNI