Railway services paralysed for 8 hours following Maoists threat

Purulia, May 13 (UNI) Railway services came to a halt for nearly eight hours between Adra and Chandil section of South Eastern Railway after armed Maoists asked the station master of Biramdih not to run trains.

Mr M P Singh, the station master, stopped movement of trains from 2300 hours last night and resumed it at 0700 hours this morning after running a patrolling train and inspecting rail tracks.

Adra Divisional Railway Manager Om Prakash Choubey said the Maoists fled with costly railway equipment.

Six months ago the ultras had blasted a bomb at this station, 30 km from Purulia town.

Meanwhile, Moists today observed a 12-hour bandh in Purulia, Bankura, Midnapore and Bardhaman in South Bengal demanding development of Adivasis.

According to Superintendent of Police, the bandh evoked mixed response. Buses did not ply and most of the shops remained closed.

Though government offices remained open, attendance was thin.

UNI XC KK GL HT1752