Maoists Blow up Railway Tracks as Shutdown Begins in Six States

Maoists blew up a railway track between Midnapore and Godapia Sal stations in West Midnapore district in the morning as a two-day shutdown called by them in six states commences today, said media reports.

District Magistrate N S Nigam said that the explosion occurred at Bhalukkhunia, damaging the tracks, said reports.

He said that checks were being conducted in the area following the blast and train services got disrupted, reports said.

“Through such incidents, the Maoists are trying to divert the attention of the combined forces engaged in the combing operation to flush out Maoists from the Jangalmahal area,” Nigam was quoted as saying.

Today, a shutdown called by rebels began in six states of West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhatisgarh, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh as well as three districts of Maharashtra, reports said.

The shutdown is in protest against the Union Budget, which the Maoists claim is anti-poor and prepared under the dictates of the World Bank, said reports.

It has been called to make public opinion against Operation Greenhunt launched by the Central Government against the Maoists.

The Maoists have also warned Union Home Minister P Chidambaram that there would be large-scale violence if the police continue to hunt down its cadres and kill innocent people.

All the six states have been put on high alert following the shutdown.

(Based on internet reports)