Maoist fury in Jharkhand, Bihar during shutdown

Maoists on Monday blew up railway tracks and torched three trucks in Jharkhand and blasted a tower of a private telecom firm besides blocking roads in Bihar during a two-day shutdown called by them in protest against the Centre's decision to crackdown on Naxals.

In Jharkhand, Maoists blasted railway tracks at Jharandih in the Coal belt Industrial Chord section in Dhanbad which led to the Shaktipunj Express and local trains being held up at various points, Senior Public Relations Officer of Dhanbad Rail Division Amrendra Das told PTI.

A group of 12 armed Maoists also set fire to three trucks in Giridih district's Isri area and blocked the Dumri-Giridih road with felled trees, Giridih Superintendent of Police Ravi Kant Dhan said.

They also partially damaged a road bridge connecting Dumri to the Grand Trunk Road using explosives, the police officer said, adding gunshots were heard being fired in the area.

In Bihar, armed Maoists bombed a tower of a private telecom firm with dynamite at Salaiya village and dug roads in Aurangabad district, officials said.

They also dug up a 15 metre stretch of a road at Chanda village in the district disrupting traffic between Deo and Dhibra this morning.

The Maoists left behind pamphlets claiming responsibility for the attacks, the sources said.