Maoists torch truck, tractor in Bihar
By IANSMonday, February 8, 2010
PATNA - Maoist guerrillas torched a truck and a tractor in a Bihar village early Monday to enforce a 72-hour shutdown to protest a proposed security operation against them, officials said.
The incident took place at Chelabh village near the Maoist stronghold of Sherghati in Gaya district, about 100 km from here, police said. The shutdown entered its second day Monday.
The strike call evoked mixed response in Bihar with urban areas unaffected but some impact in villages.
According to a home department official, the strike evoked no response in Patna, Gaya, Muzaffarpur, Bhagalpur and Purnea. However, it affected life in Aurangabad, Jehanabad, Arwal and Gaya districts that are considered Maoist strongholds.
On Sunday morning, guerrillas had blown up a railway track in Jamui district resulting in rail traffic being disrupted for hours.
