Naxalites blow up railway bridge in Jharkhand

Extremists blew up a railway bridge in Palamu district of Jharkhand as the 24-hr bandh began at midnight.

		Who called bandh   The 24-hour Jharkhand bandh has been called jointly by People's War and Maoist Communist Centre   Why   In protest against 'extra-judicial' activities of police   Violence   A rly bridge was blown up in Palamu in wee hours and 3 engines of goods trains burnt in Latehar. Ultras exploded bombs at Ramula railway station in Garwah.   Response   Mixed so far. Vehicular traffic in all towns plied normally and educational institutions remained open   HindustanTimes.com Special Naxalism and Caste War

Extremists blew up a railway bridge in Palamu district and burnt down three engines of goods trains in Latehar district on Thursday as the 24-hour Jharkhand bandh called jointly by the banned People's War and Maoist Communist Centre began at midnight.

The railway bridge was blown up between Mohamadaganj and Hussainabad stations in the wee hours badly affecting train services on that route, railway sources at Garwah said.

In a separate incident, some 50-60 armed ultras set afire three engines of different goods trains at Chipadohar station in Latehar district, railway sources said.

The extremists, who normally target railway properties during bandhs, also thrashed and chased away the drivers of the trains and staff at the station.

The bandh call comes close on the heels of a rally organised here by All India People's Resistance Forum, a body of sympathisers of extremist groups in protest against the alleged extra-judicial activities of the police. The banned outfits have also called the bandh on the same ground.

Police patrolling has been intensified in certain areas with pilot engines escorting important trains, official sources said.

Vehicular traffic in all towns plied normally and educational institutions and offices remained open, they said.

On Tuesday night, the ultras had exploded twin bombs at Ramula railway station in Garwah district.