April 15: Security has been stepped up in all Naxalite-hit districts and railway stations across the state before the 24-hour Maoist bandh starting Tuesday midnight.
“Possibility of violence could not be ruled out during tomorrow’s bandh. All the district police chiefs have been directed to be on vigil and high alert,” said R.K. Mallick, the spokesperson for state police, adding Palamau, Hazaribagh, Garhwa and Bokaro have been declared “sensitive”.
The bandh was called to protest against the Garhwa incident, where eight suspected Maoists were killed. However, the Naxalites said those were innocent villagers.
As railway properties and trains have become soft targets of the rebels, several trains, including the Rajdhani Express, Jammu Tawi Express and Swarn Jayanti Express, have been diverted. “This arrangement has been made to ensure safety of passengers,” said Vivek Srivastava, senior divisional commercial manager of Ranchi railway division.
In East Singhbhum district, Ghatshila, Chandil and Saranda will have more security and surveillance tomorrow.
Tatanagar superintendent of railway police Mrityunjay Kumar said more personnel have been deployed all strategic locations, including railway stations and bridges.
A number of trains running on the vulnerable Central Indian Coalfields section of Dhanbad railway division have been cancelled, diverted and regulated on both April 15 and 16, divisional railway manager Ambrish Gupta said.
Late tonight, about 200 Maoists gheraoed Jogeswar-Bihar and Daniyawan stations on the CIC section. However, no loss of propoerty was reported, said DIG Anurag Gupta, who rushed to the spot with Bokaro superintendent of police Priya Dubey.
Source: The Telegraph, April 15, 2008
