Maoists resort to wanton killing & damaging infrastructure during the two-day bandh

Press Information Bureau Government of India ******* Maoists resort to wanton killing & damaging infrastructure during the two-day bandh   New Delhi : October 15, 2009   The CPI (Maoist) had called for a two-day bandh on the October 13-14, 2009 in Jharkhand, Bihar and six districts of West Bengal, to protest the alleged crackdown by security forces. In furthering the cause of their so-called 'armed liberation struggle', the CPI (Maoist) indulged in wanton killing and inflicted heavy damage on private and government-owned infrastructural assets in twenty one reported incidents of senseless violence.   The so-called 'armed liberation struggle', ostensibly meant to lead to betterment of the lives of the common citizen, especially the tribal people, has, in two days, set back development efforts of the Government and private investors. Rebuilding the damaged roads, bridge, railway property, telecom towers, block office and school building would require many months and more resources would need to be provided. Civil society must reflect on the consequences of the path of mindless violence chosen by the CPI (Maoist) and how their actions actually hurt the poor and disadvantaged sections of the people.   In Jharkhand, thirteen incidents were reported. The Maoist cadres blew up three telecom towers; set ablaze an electric generator; blew up a portion of a school building in Chatra district; blew up a portion of a railway track near Daniya, Dhanbad Division, leading to the derailment of 12 wagons of a goods train; and damaged another goods train engine at Dhalmumgarh. In all, twelve trains were held up for six hours. Further, the Maoists partially blasted a road bridge near Dumri, blocked the Dumri-Giridih road by felling trees, blew up a stretch of road in Hazaribagh district and set three trucks ablaze in Giridih district. In the most heinous of its depredations, the Maoist cadres killed and hacked the bodies of three policemen protecting JMM ex-MP Sudam Marndi in Mayurbhanj district.   In Bihar, five incidents were reported. The Bansipur railway station was ransacked and set ablaze after holding six railway employees hostage for a few hours. A portion of the railway track near the Ghodparan station in Jamui district and a block office building in Munger district were blown up. The Maoists also blew up a telecom tower in Salaiya village and dug a 15-metre long trench on a local road at village Chanda, disrupting traffic.   In West Bengal, three incidents were reported. One member of the 'Maoist Pratirodh Committee' was killed and another abducted, while the house of a local CPI (M) leader was ransacked and torched in Purulia district. In the latter instance, the local Village Defence Committee challenged the Maoists; one villager sustaining a bullet injury.     RS/KKA/spandey PIB Kolkata