Maoists on Monay blew up railway tracks in Orissa and Bihar on the second of their 72-hour bandh in five states to protest the Centre’s proposed all-out offensive against them.
In Orissa, Maoists blew up railway tracks between Bhalulata and Jareikela, about 30 km from Rourkela, leading to derailment of two wagons of a goods train and disruption of train services on the Howrah-Mumbai route, Rourkela railway station manager S.K. Panda said.
In Bihar, Maoists targeted a pilot engine which had securitymen on board and blew up tracks on Saturday night between Rajla and Narganjo railway halts, affecting the movement of several long-distance and local trains, Station House Officer of Jamalpur railway police station, Bindeshwari Yadav told PTI.
The SHO said the pilot engine crossed the area safely. The tracks were later repaired.Train services in the affected area in Orissa were restored after nine hours.
During search on the tracks, security personnel found a cane-bomb between Bhalulata and Mahipan Monday morning which was defused by the bomb disposal squad.
Maoists had on Sunday called a 72-hour bandh in Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh to protest the proposed all-out offensive against them by the Centre.
