Hours before the start of Republic Day celebrations throughout the country, outlawed CPI (Maoist) ultras late on Wednesday night struck in a big way in Bihar and Jharkhand, blowing up rail tracks and bridges at several places of the two neighbouring states.
Police said at least 15 long-distance trains including Howrah-New Delhi Rajdhani Express, Sealdah Express, Palamu Express and Kalka Mail have been stopped at various stations in Bihar and Jharkhand as services in the Gaya-Mughalsarai division have been affected, though there were no reports of any casualities so far.
Train services in the Samastipur route have also been disrupted.
A report from Gaya said the banned ultras blew up, using dynamite, a railway bridge near Azad Bigaha village in Gaya district between Guraru and Paraiya railway stations in Gaya-Mughalsarai division of East Central Railway.
A bomb had also been planted on rail track near the Dev Road station in the same division, besides recovering a bomb near the rail tracks in Aurangabad district.
Sources said the ultras also attacked the Bakhri station between Katihar and Barauni and had kidnapped the station master.
{{/usCountry}}Sources said the ultras also attacked the Bakhri station between Katihar and Barauni and had kidnapped the station master.
{{/usCountry}}Another report from Ranchi said Naxalites blew up rail tracks between Dania and Jageshar-Bigah in the Gomio-Barkakana section of the Dhanabad division of East Central Railway.
Dhanabad Railway Police Superintendent S Hembram said the incidents occurred after midnight but no casualities have been reported so far.
Joint teams of Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Government Railway Police (GPR) have rushed to the places of incidents.
Naxalites chop off hands of a villager
Armed extremists of the banned CPI(Maoist) chopped off both hands of a villager in Gaya district.
Naxalites overpowered Shankar Prasad at Mora village under Bodh Gaya police station late on Wednesday night and axed his hands.
Old enmity was suspected to be the reason behind the incident, the police said.
A report from Ara said extremists of the outfit burnt two dumpers and a tractor engaged in the construction of a road at Simraon village under Chaokhari police station in Bhojpur district on Wednesday night.
The contractor's refusal to pay extortion amount demanded by the Naxalites was stated to be the reason behind the violence, the police said.