Thaindian News

Ranchi, May 19 (IANS) The 48-hour Maoist strike entered the second day Wednesday with buses not plying, mining activities halted and railway services affected in Jharkhand, especially in the rural areas, police said.
The roads wore a deserted look, shops were closed and schools registered thin attendance in rural areas.

Thousands of buses and trucks were off the roads.

According to truck and buses associations, Jharkhand suffered a loss of Rs.60-70 crore due to the two-day Maoist strike.

“The Maoist impact is visible in rural areas, but there is no impact in urban areas. Passengers are worst sufferers due to the strike,” an official at the Jharkhand police headquarter told IANS.

Maoist rebels shot at a truck driver in Simdega district, police said. He has been admitted in a local hospital.

Railway authorities, as a precautionary measure, cancelled eight trains and diverted nine train services.

Mining activity has been affected as also transportation of coal, iron ore and bauxite.

The worst-affected districts are Giridih, Latehar, Palamau and Simdega, among others.

The 48-hour strike called by the banned Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) began Tuesday.

CPI-Maoist has called the strike in five states — Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal — to protest operation Green Hunt against them and the arrest of Maoist leader Soma Mardi in West Bengal.

Maoists say police arrested Soma Mardi and did not produce him in court.