Maoists blow up school, rail tracks, phone towers in Jharkhand

Maoists blow up school, rail tracks, phone towers in JharkhandRanchi, Oct 13 - Maoist rebels Tuesday blew up a government-run school, rail tracks and four mobile phone towers at various places in Jharkhand to enforce the two-day strike they had called, police said. The strike that had started Monday has crippled the state.

The rebels blew up a government-run school in Nawadih of Chatra district early Tuesday morning.

According to police, Maoist guerrillas blasted rail tracks between Dania and Jogehswar railway stations under Dhanbad railway division late Monday night. Train services have come to a standstill between Chandrapur and Barkakana stations, with 13 trains affected. Repair work has begun, railway officials said.

Late Monday night they also blasted three mobile phone towers in Toto village of Gumla district and one tower in Chando village of Palamau district.

The banned CPI-Maoist has called for a two-day strike in five states including Jharkhand to protest the central government's move to step up anti-Maoist operations. The strike has also been called to protest alleged police repression in the name of anti-Maoist operations.

Jharkhand has been badly affected by the strike, which has hit rail and bus services, as well as the movement of coal and other mining activities, the backbone of the state's economy. (IANS)