Ahead of panchayat polls, suspected Maoists blow up Patna school

Suspected Maoists blew up parts of the Navin Prathamik school building in Patna on Friday night. No casualties have been reported.

The school, located within the Simultalla police station limits of Jamui district, 260 kms south-east of Patna, has a polling booth set up for panchayat elections on Sunday. The blast occurred when a marriage party was passing through a road located close to the school.

Police authorities have, prima facie, ruled out the possibility of Maoist involvement in the blast.

DIG eastern range Barun Kumar Sinha who holds additional charge of the Munger range, said the blast seems to be the work of criminals and that crude bombs were used for the purpose.

Police sources said they believe the blast must have been the handiwork of one of the candidates, in order to defer polling. The DIG said further investigations were on.