Five Trains Cancelled as Two-day Maoists Strike Begins in Bihar

As a two-day strike called by Maoists began today in Bihar, five trains were cancelled and buses went off road even as tight security was put in place amid fear of violence in the state, said media reports.

Due to strike, some trains were diverted. “Hundreds of passengers cancelled their tickets in the last one day,” an official at the ticket counter of the Patna railway junction was quoted as saying.

An official of the East Central Railway said that the trains cancelled include the Patna-Barka Kana Singrauli Express, Barka Kana-Patna Express, Barwadih-Dehri On Sone Passenger and the Singrauli-Garhwa Express, reports said.

Dilip Kumar, the chief public relations officer of the East Central Railway, said that railways have taken precautionary measures as trains are soft targets for Maoists, said reports.

He said that pilot engines would escort the trains during the day time in Maoist-affected areas, reports said.

Strike hit public road transport in some rural areas as long-route buses were not plying fearing violence, said reports.

Rural markets in Gaya, Aurangabad, Jehanabad and Arwal were closed, reports said.

“No violence was reported in the state after Maoists began their strike at midnight Tuesday,” Additional Director General of Police PK Thakur was quoted as saying.

He said that an alert has been sounded in the state and adequate security arrangements are in place, said reports.

(Based on internet reports)