Economic blockade: Maoists blow up power line in Bastar

Jagdalpur, June 25 (UNI) Ahead of the two-day economic blockade called by Maoists in Chhattisgarh from tomorrow, naxalites removed a 30-metre rail track and blew up a power transmission line in Bijapur district last night.

Police sources said the rebels blasted a 33 KV transmission line at around 2100 hours last night, disrupting power supply in Bhairamgarh and Bhopalpatanam blocks.

State Electricity Board officials have rushed to the spot to re-erect the tower for restoring power supply. Additional security personnel have been deployed to provide security to the SEB staff in view of Naxalite threat.

Naxalites had also caused extensive damage to railway line between Kirandul and Vishakhapatanam by triggering blasts to remove about 30 metre track in Dantewada district last night. Railway officials have begun work to restore traffic, particularly transport of iron ore.

Police also recovered Maoist handbills and posters from several places in the region threatening to cause extensive damage to telecom, railway and electricity supply during the blockade.

Bastar region had witnessed a major blackout for ten days from May 31 after the rebels blew up high-tension transmission lines, disrupting normal life in Bastar, Dantewada, Bijapur and Narayanpur districts.

State's Principal Secretary (Home) S V Prabhat told UNI that security had been tightened in almost all the districts of the state in view of the Maoist call for economic blockade.

He said adequate steps have been taken to maintain law and order in all naxalite areas, including in Bastar, where police and para-military forces have been deployed. He said security has been tightened at the National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) and Essar Steel's facilities in Bastar.

UNI