Bank closes after receiving Maoist threat call

A local branch of State Bank of India (SBI) was closed today after receiving a threat call from suspected Maoists warning against the bank's functioning during the ongoing shutdown called by the ultras in Jharkhand.

A local branch of State Bank of India (SBI) was closed today after receiving a threat call from suspected Maoists warning against the bank's functioning during the ongoing shutdown called by the ultras in Jharkhand.

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"The call was received in the afternoon, threatening the authorities of SBI Latehar town branch, about 125 km from Ranchi, for remaining open during the bandh called by Maoists during the day," Superintendent of Police, Latehar, Hemant Toppo, told reporters here.

Toppo said, forces have been deployed to provide security to the bank officials and efforts were on to identify the made the threat call.

Several shops and petrol pumps in Latehar district downed shutters following a threat from Maoists, police said.

Maoists are reportedly continuing the bandh in protest against the killing of five persons on April 15 at Barhania village in the district.

The five were among the nine persons who died in an encounter followed by a land mine blast, a day before first phase polling on April 16 and police had claimed that they were Maoists.

The other four persons killed in the incident were two CRPF personnel, a driver and a helper.