CPI(Maoist) bandh withdrawn in Jharkhand

Ranchi, Aug 2: The 24-hour Jharkhand bandh,called by proscribed CPI(Maoist), ended midnight last night with no fresh incidence of violence in the past 12 hours.

However, people in Naxal-hit districts continued to remain apprehensive about the reported extension of the bandh for another day.

Director General of Police (DGP) J B Mahapatra told the sources here today that the ultras, in some districts, had earlier announced to extend the bandh, which was subsequently withdrawn.

Reports from Latehar, where ultras blew up two railway stations yesterday, said people were still in a state of confusion if the bandh continued or ended affecting daily activities in the district.

Similar scenes were witnessed in districts like Gumla, Lohardaga, Chatra where the Maoists were more active.

The DGP said except the twin explosions in two railway stations in Latehar, another explosion at a forest bungalow at Maromar and indiscriminate firing by the ultras in Garwah district that left one person killed and 17 others injured, no fresh violence took place last night.

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

Though police neither confirmed nor denied 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, stated that the bandh was against the arrest of their three cadres.

Besides, the outfit 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