Maoist bandh in north Bihar evokes partial response

Patna, May 15 (UNI) The 24-hour bandh called by proscribed CPI (Maoist) guerillas in north Bihar evoked partial response today even as the ultras blew up a portion of railway tracks between Ghorasahan and Jaymurtinagar stations in West Champaran district late last night.

Inspector General of Police, Muzaffarpur Range, Krishna Choudhury informed here that life remained ''almost normal'' in most of the north Bihar districts with shops, business establishments and educational institutions remaining open and vehicles plying on roads as usual.

He said as a precautionary measure vigil had been intensified in all government offices, important institutions and in railway stations in all the 12 north Bihar districts to prevent any possible violence by the ultras.

The bandh supporters blew up a portion of railway tracks between Ghorasahan and Jaymurtinagar station under Sitamarhi-Narkatiaganj section of East Central Railway (ECR), about 200 km from here, at around 0300 hours early today forcing the railway authorities to suspend services in that section.

However, there was no report of any injury or casualty.

As a result train services through several north Bihar districts had remained suspended, Mr Choudhury quoting the railway sources said adding that attempts were being made to resume it soon.

Because of the bandh, the Railway authorities have either cancelled or diverted the routes of several long distance trains passing through north Bihar today as a precautionaty measure.

The 24-hour bandh has been called by the underground outfit to protest the arrest of senior Maoist leader Ram Pravresh Baitha and unabated police atrocities on innocent people in the name of anti- Naxalite operations in the state.

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