Maoists take to violence ahead of second phase of polls

Ranchi/ Raipur, Nov.30 (AN): Disappointed by the public response to their call for two-day closure, Maoists are stepping up violent incidents in their effort to limit public response to the second phase of State Assembly elections in the State. .

Three security personnel were injured in a landmine blast triggered by the Maoists in Chatra in Jharkhand on Monday, the second day of their two-day shutdown.

The security persons' vehicle ran over a landmine when they were patrolling. The injured had to be airlifted to Ranchi, the State capital, for treatment.

The Maoists have increased attacks on railways and power and telecommunication networks to create an environment of fear.

In another incident, Maoist rebels damaged an under construction barrack for the paramilitary forces, in Chhattisgarh.

The barrack was being built for the Border Security Force (BSF) in PC 34 village of Kanker district.

Several armed rebels reached the construction site at night and destroyed the barrack.hey also planted a tiffin bomb at the site.

The incident failed to deter the officials who plan to carry on the construction work at the same place.

"They had come at around 1 in night and took away the material lying there and also threw away some material... The barrack will be constructed at the same place only and the BSF will make it," said R.K. Sharma, Sub Divisional Officer (SDO), Pankhajur.

Campaigning in India's poll-bound Jharkhand state slowed down during the 48-hour shutdown called by the Maoists as part of their poll boycott campaign, party workers said on Monday (November 30).

"Campaigning work is getting impeded due to shutdown. We are working from our offices, and even here people are finding it difficult to move around due to the shutdown," Dinesh Mahato, a BJP party worker in Khunti district said.

The first phase of polls in the state for 26 assembly seats was held on November 25.

The second phase of polls in the state, including many of the Maoists affected areas, would be held on December 2, for 14 assembly seats. (ANI)