Maoist strike shuts down villages in Bihar

A strike call by Maoist guerrillas evoked a mixed response in Bihar on Monday as urban areas remained unaffected while normal life was hit in rural areas.

A strike call by Maoist guerrillas evoked a mixed response in Bihar on Monday as urban areas remained unaffected while normal life was hit in rural areas.

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No major violence or attempt to create trouble was reported across the state on Monday morning, when the two-day strike by rebels started, police said.

Additional Director General (police headquarters) Neelmani told reporters in Patna that Maoist strike had passed off peacefully so far.

"A red alert has been sounded and police officers were asked to keep extra vigil," he said.

An official in the home department said the Maoist strike call evoked no response in urban areas including Patna, Gaya, Muzaffarpur, Bhagalpur and Purnea. However, normal life in some rural areas - considered Maoist strongholds - in Aurangabad, Jehanabad, Arwal and Gaya districts was affected.

"Business establishments and educational institutions were affected by the strike in Gaya, Aurangabad and Arwal," the official said.

The outlawed CPI-Maoist has called for a two-day strike in five states including Bihar to protest the central government's decision to step up its initiative against them. The strike has also been called to protest alleged police repression in the name of anti-Maoist operations.