Maoists blew up a road bridge in Jharkhand, torched a CPI(M) office and set off a blast near a railway track in West Bengal.
The 48-hour bandh called by Maoists in six states had its maximum impact on West Bengal. The ultras triggered an explosion along a railway track in the state and blew up a road bridge in Jharkhand as the bandh began on Monday.
The blasts were triggered alongside a railway track at Bhalukhunia between Midnapore and Godapia Sal stations in Bengal’s West Midnapore district, officials said.
The bandh call has been given across West Bengal, Orissa, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattishgarh and Andhra Pradesh against the Centre’s decision to start Operation Green Hunt.
According to chief public relations officer of south eastern railways, Shaumitra Majumdar, the blast took place between Midnapore and Godapia Sal stations. “Following the blast, rail services at the branch line of the region connecting West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia districts were severely affected,” Majumdar said.
According to district police sources, a major train accident was averted by the alert driver of a train passing by the region. He heard the blast at a distance and applied brakes in advance.
“Several placards and flags made by Maoists were recovered from
the area,” a senior police officer deputed in the region told DNA.
Sources said that immediately after the blast, security personnel, including the bomb disposal unit staff, took charge of the entire region.
“They did foot patrolling throughout the region to locate other hidden bombs and landmines,” the police officer said.
Besides triggering the blasts on railway tracks, the Maoists resorted to road blockades in several areas of West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia. They blocked the roads by felling trees as a result of which free movement of vehicles was restricted.
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