India hit by two Maoist attacks

 

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Maoist rebels in the Indian state of Bihar have attacked a railway station, killing five policemen and a porter, officials say.

Police say that the rebels surrounded a police railway outpost at Jhajha railway station in Jamui district.

The rebels also looted arms and ammunition in the attack, police say.

Meanwhile police in the state of West Bengal say that three members of the ruling Marxist party have been shot dead by Maoists in a remote region.

The three leaders were killed in broad daylight in the state’s remote Salboni region bordering the state of Jharkhand on Sunday.

Police said that a squad of 10 to 12 Maoists kidnapped seven political activists from Garmal village and took them to nearby jungle.

Three of those captured escaped, one was severely beaten up and the others – including a Communist Party of India (Marxist) branch secretary – were shot dead.

The CPI(M) has called for a day-long strike in the Salboni area to protest against the incident.

‘Combing operation’

Police in Bihar told the BBC that Maoists attacked the railway police post on Sunday evening.

They say extra personnel have been rushed to the area and a “massive combing operation” is now underway.

Maoists have a presence in about 22 districts of Bihar as well as in the neighbouring state of Jharkhand.

Analysts say that they operate in 182 districts in India, mainly in the states of Jharkhand, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and West Bengal.

The rebels say they are fighting for the rights of poor peasants and landless workers.

 

Naxal’s hunger strike: Stalemate continues

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NAGPUR: The issue of reported hunger strike of the 12 inmates held for their alleged association with the Naxal movement at the city’s central jail is likely to take centrestage on Monday when state deputy chief minister R R Patil would be in the city. While the state anti-naxal operation cell is yet to begin the probe in full swing, the jail administration seems to be puzzled over the issue. Patil, who recently ordered a probe into the charges framed against the Maoists and their sympathisers, is likely to take stock of the situation. Sources in the government security agencies had earlier indicated that the developments in Central Jail mirrored a Naxal strategy to create modules inside the prison to ensure a steady recruitment drive and continuous building of pressure on the government through protests in the jails. Recently, a two-day convention had taken place in Northern India where frontal organisations had met to discuss the issue of freeing political prisoners from jails all across the country, sources told TOI. ANO chief Pankaj Gupta has claimed that he was kept in the dark regarding the ongoing protest by naxals and their demands. “It seems that the Naxal inmates in the jail have formed some groups and are trying to mount pressure on the administration,” said Gupta. “The ANO should have been informed earlier about the demands and developments of the Naxals in prison,” added Gupta. Meanwhile, jail authorities have claimed that the protesting Naxals are refusing to take their regular meals.