Maoists blast rail tracks in West Bengal as bandh called by ultras begins

Maoists triggered blasts damaging railway tracks at two places in Jharkhand and
West Bengal, even as a bandh called by them today against the arrest of tribal leader Chhatradhar Mahato evoked mixed response.

Railway tracks were blown up at Poisaita in Jharkhand affecting train services in Chakradharpur division of South Eastern railway on the Howrah-Mumbai route.

"Maoists triggered the blast to blow up about 18m rail track. None were injured in the incident," Railway Police Superintendent Richard Lakra said.

Several long-distance trains, including Howrah-Bilaspur- New Delhi Rajdhani Express, were detained at several stations.

Train services from Purulia district, bordering Maoist strongholds of Jharkhand, to Jamshedpur were disrupted due to another blast triggered by Maoists near Kantadih station, about 20km from Purulia town, in Adra division of South Eastern Railway.

Both the up and down tracks were damaged by the blast late last night, a railway official said.

CPI (Maoists) gave the bandh call to protest the arrest of Mahato, convener of Maoist-backed People's Committee against Police Atrocities in West Midnapore district of West Bengal on September 26.

The bandh was total in the Maoist strongholds of Bankura, West Midnapore and Purulia districts of West Bengal with shops remaining closed and public transport off the roads.

In Orissa, normal life was affected in some areas of three Naxal-infested districts of Sundargarh, Malkangiri and Koraput, while other parts of the state remained unaffected.

Strict vigil was being maintained along Orissa's borders with Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal. "No untoward incident was reported from any place in Orissa. Necessary steps have been taken to prevent any trouble," a senior police officer said.