Bihar on full alert as Maoists begin strike

Maoists began a daylong strike to protest the arrest of some of their top leaders and police action against them.

Security was put on high alert across Bihar on Monday as Maoists began a daylong strike to protest the arrest of some of their top leaders and police action against them.

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Special surveillance was mounted along the India-Nepal border while East Central Railway suspended operations of a few trains and changed the routes of some others as a precautionary measure.

According to official sources, the state intelligence warned of violence by Maoists during the strike. Maoists used to target public properties, particularly railways, government buildings during strikes in the past.

Bihar Director General of Police AR Sinha said adequate security arrangements had been made in view of the strike and all district police officials had been asked to be on "high alert". Patrolling has also been intensified around the state, he said.

"Twenty-three companies of the Central Reserve Police Force and 500 Special Auxiliary Police companies have been deployed at sensitive points, besides Bihar police personnel and Bihar Military Police," Sinha said.

Security was tightened in the districts of East and West Champaran, Sitamarhi, Madhubani on the Indo-Nepal border on Sunday and the paramilitary troops on duty on the border were asked to be on more vigilant.

"We have directed security forces not to allow any one to enter from across the border," Sinha said.