Naxals carry on Kishenji vendetta, 3 hits in 24 hrs

Within nine hours of the attack on the convoy of Parliamentarian Inder Singh Namdhari, Naxals struck twice, blowing up railway tracks in Jharkhand and also setting fire to a mobile tower in Bihar's Aurangabad district.

The attacks come on the first day of the rebels’ two-day

countrywide shutdown to protest against the death of CPI(Maoist) politburo member Mollajula Koteswar Rao, alias Kishenji.

An improvised explosive device was used to blow up the tracks between Gomia and Dumri railway stations in Bokaro district, said superintendent of police Kuldip Diwedi.

Another group of around 30 rebels blew up tracks between Hehegara and Chhipadohar railway stations of Palamau and Latehar districts. The Maoists also briefly held hostage Ramchandra Bhagotia, the station master of Chhipadohar. He was let off with a warning to stop the movement of trains on the route.

In neighbouring Bihar, a group of rebels stormed into Suhi village and set fire to a mobile tower, police said.

Namdhari’s convoy was attacked in Jharkhand’s Latehar district late on Saturday night. Ten people had died in the landmine blast, one more person died on Sunday. On Friday, the Naxals had pledged to avenge Kishenji’s death during a programme to commemorate the 12th anniversary of People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army Raising Day.

They had planned to attack the nearby Garu police station since few policemen are posted there. But Namdhari’s tour had provided them with the perfect opportunity, said a senior police officer.