Ranchi, Jan 5 (IANS) Maoist guerrillas Tuesday called strike in Palamau region of Jharkhand to protest the alleged custodial death of a man on New Year’s eve. Meanwhile, a First Information Report has been filed against policemen in connection with the death, an official said.
The Maoist strike has disrupted life in Palamau region with no long-distance buses plying.

Maoists also blasted a railway track near Latkhori close to Mohammadganj railway station in Palamau district, around 180 km from Ranchi, late Monday night. Around one metre of railway track was damaged in the blast.

On Dec 30, police arrested Rajendra Yadav from Telari village of Palamau district. He died in mysterious circumstances the following day. His family members raised a hue and cry over the death.

Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren on Jan 1 ordered a probe into the incident. The first post-mortem examination, conducted in the government-run Palamau Sadar Hospital, gave the police a clean chit.

However, the second second post-mortem examination report said that wounds were found on the body of Rajendra Yadav. The autopsy was done Monday in the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) at Ranchi.

“Based on the post-mortem report, an FIR has been lodged against policemen (no accused named) of Chattarpur police station of Palamau district. Investigation is going on, which is being supervised by the Zonal Inspector General of Police (IG) and Deputy IG of Palamau range,” a police official told IANS.