CPI-M demands explanation from PM on increasing Maoist violence

New Delhi, Mar 24 (ANI): CPI (M) politburo member Sitaram Yechury has said that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh owes an explanation on increasing Maoists violence, despite repeated announcements by him that the dangers posed by the ultras happen to be the gravest threat to the country's internal security.

Talking to reporters here on Tuesday, Yechury said: "Despite the fact that the Prime Minister has been repeatedly announcing that the Maoist violence is the single gravest threat to India's internal security, such violence continue to happen.

"We have a situation where ministers in the Union Cabinet are patronising and encouraging the Maoists. The Prime Minister has to answer this," he added.

The Maoists had called for a 48-hour shutdown in Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and three districts of Maharashtra against the 'Operation Green Hunt' launched to deal with the rebels.

On Tuesday, the Maoists blew up a railway track between Kamandi and Chipadohar in Jharkhand's Latehar district. They also blew up railway track between Pokpada and Dalbhumgarh, besides targeting a railway track in Ranchi district.

In West Bengal, the Maoists blew up a railway track between Jhargram and Gidhni district. The Maoists had blown up a stretch of land along the railway track between Midnapore and Godapia Sal stations in West Midnapore district early on Monday morning.

The Maoists blew up a rail track in Orissa's Sundergarh district early on Tuesday morning near Bisra station, hitting rail services in the Chakradharpur division on the Howrah-Mumbai route.

The Maoists also blew up five bogies of a goods train in Orissa, besides damaging a railway track in Bisra district.

Earlier, the Maoists blew up a railway track near Gaya derailing the New Delhi bound Bhubaneswar Rajdhani Express on Monday night. (ANI)