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Tuesday 13 October 2009

Maoists Surround Polling Station in India

30 polling station officials have been surrounded by Naxal Maoists in Khamtala village in the state of Maharashtra.
Two helicopters and 50 commandos are on their way to deal with the problem.
In Gadchiroli, naxalites have been firing at security personnel much of the day.

The Hindu reported yesterday that a wave of Maoist violence has been unleashed in West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Bihar.

In Jharkhand, Maoists blew up rail tracks at Jharandih in Dhanbad, resulting in the Shaktipunj Express and some local trains being held up at various points, Senior Public Relations Officer of Dhanbad Rail Division Amrendra Das said adding a light engine derailed after a one-and-half metre section of the track was blown up.
A group of 12 Maoists set three trucks ablaze in Giridih district’s Isri area and blocked the Dumri-Giridih road with felled trees. Maoists also partially blasted a road bridge connecting Dumri to the Grand Trunk Road and gunshots were heard, Giridih Superintendent of Police Ravi Kant Dhan said.
Hazaribagh Superintendent of Police Pankaj Kamboj said Maoists partially damaged a road with explosives at Sardalo, bordering Bokaro district.
In Bihar, Maoists blasted the telecom tower at Salaiya village. Maoists also dug up a 15-metre stretch of a road at Chanda village, disrupting traffic between Deo and Dhibra. They left behind pamphlets, claiming responsibility for the action, official sources said.

Just last week, the naxals killed 17 policemen in Gadchiroli. This is Maoist heartland, forested and highly rural.
Polling is under way in Maharashtra and two other states.

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