By IANS,
Patna : Suspected Maoists attacked a Border Security Force (BSF) camp in Bihar’s Rohtas district early Wednesday, a day ahead of the first phase of Lok Sabha polls. No casualty was reported in the incident, police said.
Over 100 armed Maoists attacked the BSF camp at Bhansa Ghati in Rohtas, about 150 km from here, around 1.00 a.m. One security personnel was injured in the incident.
“Maoists used three rocket launchers in their attack on the BSF camp. Two launchers failed and one rocket hit a wall,” Additional Director General of Police (Police Headquarters) Neelmani told IANS.
The BSF camp was set up to ensure peaceful polls in view of the boycott call by the outlawed Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist)
“A company of the BSF was camping there in view of the Maoist threat during polls,” Neelmani said.
“Two air force helicopters are being used to comb the area and track the Maoists,” he added.
On Tuesday, Maoist rebels torched the campaign vehicle of Mahabali Singh, the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) candidate for the Karakat seat, at Karma-Vishnupur village in Aurangabad district, about 150 km from here.
On Monday, two school buildings in Gaya district and another primary school building in Aurangabad district were bombed by the guerrillas.
The election campaign vehicle of Mahabali Singh, the JD-U candidate from Karakat constituency, was burnt early Tuesday
Most Maoist affected areas of the state will go to the polls in the first phase Thursday. The government will deploy central paramilitary forces in large numbers to ensure peaceful voting, officials said.
In the first phase, in which 13 of the state’s 40 seats will go to the polls, choppers will be deployed for security. The other three rounds will be held on April 23, 30 and May 7.
Elections in Bihar have usually been troubled affairs. In the 1999 Lok Sabha polls, 74 people were killed. In 2004, the toll was 20.