Maoists kill policeman in Jharkhand

Ranchi, Mar 23 (ANI): The Maoists on Tuesday morning gunned down a policeman in Jharkhand's Sareikela-Kharsawan during their two-day shutdown call, which began on Monday.

The policeman identified as Kalicharan Bodra was killed, when the rebels fired indiscriminately on a police patrolling team near Chouka police station around 1: 30 a.m.

The Maoists later hid into the forests after the police personnel launched a counter attack.

The security forces have launched an extensive search operation and are keeping a strong vigil at strategic locations.

Meanwhile, the Maoists attacked railway tracks in four states of West Bengal, Orissa, Bihar and Jharkhand during the second day of their two-day shutdown call.

At least three trains have been cancelled and over 17 diverted to avoid further attacks.

The Maoists are observing the shutdown across the six states of West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhatisgarh, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh in protest against the Union Budget, which the rebels claim is anti-poor and prepared under the dictates of the World Bank. (ANI)