Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Bihar deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi has warned that Maoist activities are again on the rise in the state.
"In Bihar, Maoist activities have increased. Last week, letters were sent by them to more than ten contractors for levy. In Gopalganj District, the chief minister (Nitish Kumar) laid the foundation stone of a bridge after which, the Maoists threatened contractors and demanded money," said Modi.
He said this has stalled construction activities in the state, and even the central government has written to the state government to express its concern over the increase in such activities.
"All the contractors who are in the construction business are in a state of shock. The construction business is affected, it has been stalled, and, all of them are scared. In last seven to eight months, there has been a tremendous increase in attacks in Bihar. Even the Indian Government has given a report to the state government that there has been a tremendous increase in such activities in Bihar," added Modi.
Maoists are rebels who try to sink deep roots and form links after decades of neglect. The rebels are rapidly expanding their insurgency and could move from remote rural areas to cities.
Equipped with automatic weapons, shoulder rocket launchers, mines and explosives, the Maoists want to cripple economic activity.
The Maoists, who say they are fighting for the rights of the poor and landless, control some of India's mineral-rich areas and operate in large swathes of the eastern, central and southern countryside.
The Maoists, also known as Naxals, have killed police and politicians, and targeted government buildings and railway tracks in an insurgency that has killed thousands since the 1960s.
The rebels are estimated to number 7000 hardcore fighters in nearly a third of India's 630 districts.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}