Suspected naxals blew up railway tracks at Poisaita in Jharkhand and Kantadih in Purulia district of West Bengal early on Saturday as the bandh called by CPI (Maoists) began today to protest the arrest of one of their leaders.
Train services on Howrah-Mumbai route were affected due to the blast at Poisaita in Chakradharpur division of South Eastern Railway.
Railway Police Superintendent Richard Lakra said, “Maoists triggered the blast to blow up about 18—metre rail track. Nobody was injured as the incident“.
Maoists have given the bandh call today in protest against the arrest of the convener of Maoist-backed People’s Committee against Police Atrocities (PCPA) Chhatradhar Mahato in West Midnapore district of West Bengal on September 26.
Several long-distance trains, including Howrah-Bilaspur-New Delhi Rajdhani Express, were detained at several stations due to the rail track damage, railway officials said.
Railway officials said Rajdhani Express was detained at Goilkera station.
Besides, Howrah-Pune Azad Hind Express was detained at Chakradharpur, Sambleshwari Express at Sini, Hapa-Howrah Express at Tatanagar, Mumbai-Howrah Mail at Manoharpur, Pune-Howrah Express at Rourkela and Mumbai-Howrah Geetanjali Express at Jharsuguda and Ahmedabad-Howrah Express at Rourkela.
