By IANS
Ranchi : Security has been beefed up across Jharkhand ahead of a 24-hour strike called by Maoists beginning Saturday midnight over the arrest of one of their top leaders.
Misir Besra, alias Bhaskar, a top Maoist leader, was arrested from Khuti district three days ago. Police said Bhaskar had played a crucial role in carrying out attacks against security personnel in different parts of the state.
Bhaskar, who is a politburo member of the radical Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist), is also said to be the mastermind behind the killing of 45 security personnel at Saranda jungle in Chaibasa district in two separate incidents in 2002 and 2004.
“Security personnel have been asked to be on alert and keep a close watch on the activities of Maoist rebels,” said police spokesperson R.K. Mallik.
Nine trains have been cancelled and four trains diverted in view of the strike. Security has been tightened at important government installations as well.
This is third strike called by Maoist rebels in the last two months to protest the arrest of its leaders. Last month, another top Maoist leader, Madanji, was arrested from Patna.
Maoist guerrillas are active in 16 of Jharkhand’s 22 districts. Nearly 950 people, including over 300 security personnel, have been killed in the last six years in Maoist-related violence.