By IANS,
Ranchi : A two-day strike imposed by Maoists in five eastern Indian states to demand the release of two of its leaders evoked a partial response Tuesday and saw violence in Orissa, Jharkhand and Bihar.
The rebels blasted structures and set vehicles on fire in Orissa, Jharkhand and Bihar. Normal life was hit in parts of West Bengal. No untoward incident was reported from Chhattisgarh, police said.
The Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) Monday called the strike to demand the release of two of its cadres allegedly arrested in Bihar Aug 19.
In Orissa, the guerrillas blew up a building and torched at least eight vehicles at Roxy railway station in Sundergarh district.
“They blasted a building at a railway station located near Jharkhand. It is the only incident of violence reported so far,” Sanjeev Marik, the state inspector general of police, told IANS.
“There is no impact of the Maoist bandh in Orissa. Life is normal,” he said.
Early Tuesday, rebels in Jharkhand set four trucks ablaze on the Ranchi-Jamshedpur highway. One truck driver was injured.
According to police, the guerrillas blasted a mobile phone tower in Lali village of Latehar district late Monday. The rebels also set on fire generators and other material in the tower.
In Bihar, a community hall was blasted in Irki in Aurangabad district. Life in some towns was paralysed. These included Arwal, Aurangabad, Jehanabad and Gaya.
However, Additional Director General of Police Neelmani said there was no report of any untoward incident in the state.
As a precaution, vigilance was maintained on railway platforms, bus stands and other public places.
“The strike has had no effect in the state (Chhattisgarh). In the interior of Bastar too buses are plying,” Inspector General of Police T.J. Longkumer told IANS on telephone.
Officials said security was increased in the 40,000 sq km Maoist bastion of Bastar.
Life was partially affected in the Maoist strongholds of West Bengal. Some shops and commercial establishments were closed in the western districts of Bankura, Purulia and West Midnapore. Fewer vehicles plied on the road.
A senior police officer said the shutdown had no impact.
“There’s been no report of any violence,” Surajit Kar Purakayastha, state inspector general (Law and Order), told IANS.
The strike call was given to protest the arrest of Anil Kumar, a CPI-Maoist politburo member, and Kartik, a central committee member.