Maoists kill 1, injure 17, blow up rly stations

Ranchi, Aug 1 (UNI) One person was killed and 17 were injured in two incidents of firing by CPI(Maoists), who also detonated bombs in two railway stations during their 24-hour Jharkhand bandh that began midnight last night.

Report from Garwah said the militants opened indiscriminate fire on a bus at Bhaguaghati on the Ambikapur-Garwah road at about 0430 hours that injured 17 passengers, three of them seriously.

As the driver managed to speed away despite the firing, a truck that followed the bus became the target of the ultras. They fired on the truck, killing the driver on the spot.

Three seriously injured bus passengers were referred to the state capital for treatemnt.

Earlier, ultras in two groups went to Bendi and Demu railway stations in Latehar district at about 0130 hours detonated bombs after asking the staff and other people to vacate the premises.

Railway property was damaged in the incidents which were carried out simultaneously and in similar manner, police said.

Report from Koderma said, the bandh impacted long distance traffic. Schedules of various trains running on the Grand Cord section were changed.

No untoward incident was, however, reported from Lohardaga.

The CPI(Maoist) called the bandh protesting the reported arrest of a top cadre along with two other accomplices by the Bihar police on July 29 night while they were travelling by a Patna-bound train.

Director General of Police J B Mahapatra yesterday said details were being worked out to counter any possible strike by the ultras and stated that special emphasis was being laid on railway property besides, ensuring smooth traffic on roads.

Mr Mahapatra said police had already intensified road patroling.

Though police did not confirm nor deny the arrest of hardcore ultra Jugalpaul, a resident of Barda village under Bishrampur block in Jharkhand's Palamu district along two others, a release issued by Prabir, the outfit's spokesperson for Jharkhand, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, to the local media said the bandh was against the arrest of their three cadres.

Besides, the outfit group said they would organise 'julus' (procession) for the next one week from today as part of their agitation.

Jugalpaul joined the CPI(Maoist) in 1985. He was released from jail 15 years ago but became active and was the secretary of Koyal-Sankh zone.

UNI