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Naxal blockade hits railways

K. Srinivas Reddy

HYDERABAD: Largescale disruption of goods and passenger trains in Central and Eastern India marked the culmination of a two-day economic blockade called by the Maoists on Wednesday, with the rebels blowing up railway tracks in Bokaro district of Jharkhand and burning the Birandhi railway station in Purulia district of West Bengal.

The Maoists were protesting against the economic policies of the Central and State Governments, particularly opposing the formation of the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in the country.

Chhattisgarh, the centre stage of guerilla activity, remained calm, though movement of goods trains on the crucial Kirandole section was affected to a large extent, as railway tracks and overhead traction lines were damaged by the naxalites.

In spite of intensified patrolling along the tracks, rebels blew up the railway track between Gomia and Dania stations in Bokaro district. “The railways was forced to cancel the operations due to the subversive attacks,” Additional DG, Gauri Shankar Rath told The Hindu on phone from Ranchi.

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