Truck driver burnt alive during Maoists’ bandh

A truck driver was burnt alive by suspected Maoists during their 24-hour bandh on Khunti-Arki Road about 80 kms away from the Capital city on Friday. The bandh was called against the State police’s action on the rebels.

State Police Spokesperson cum IG (Operation) Ashish Batra said that four trailers (heavy vehicles) were on way to Jamshedour from Rourkela when around 10-12 persons stopped them on the Khunti-Arki Road about 18 Kms from Khunti. They torched one of the trailers and also fired some bullets to frighten people.

“Unfortunately the driver of the truck could not come out of the trailer and died inside the vehicle. Khunti SP is camping at the site of the incident and search operations are underway to find the miscreants,” said Batra.

Police also suspected role of some Paththalgadi supporters in the incident.

However, they did not reveal anything citing that investigation was going on.  

Elsewhere, across the State the one day bandh remained largely peaceful with no incidents of violence reported. In Kolhan division barring few places under Ghatshila sub-division   where public transport remained off the road, the bandh failed to have much impact.

"Areas like Karadoba, Hurlung and Narshingpur, the areas which are closed to Bengal border and parts of Ghurabandha block had the impact of the bandh call, but life in rest of  Ghatshila sub-division was by and large normal.  Vehicular traffic on the NH-33 on the stretch of Ghatshila sub-division was also partially affected," said an official.

In the West Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharsawan districts, the bandh was peaceful.  Industrial units as well as the educational institutions, including schools ran as usually and the marketplaces were also open like any other normal day.

However, long distance buses, both government and private from Sitaramdera bus terminus did not ply today.  Owners of the Jamshedpur Bus Owners Association, Upendra Sharma said that 80 percent long distance buses plying in the Bihar routes via Ranchi did not ply today.

The bandh evoked mixed response in the coal city Bermo and mica town Giridih. The districts administration and the police had made elaborate arrangements, the NH-2 remained deserted. However, the situation within the all blocks of Bokaro and Giridih were normal. Courts, offices, Government schools and daily business continued as per schedule.

State Bank of India, Bank of India, Bokaro Thermal and Kathara branches remained closed, fearing untoward incidents.

Shops remained closed on the outskirts of the Maoist affected blocks Nawadih, Gomia and Peterwar in Bokaro while marketing establishment of Pirtard, Bagodar, Dewari,Isari, Gawa, Bangabad, Muffasil and Dumari in Giridih did not opened.

Train movement, however, remained unaffected. DIG, Bokaro Shambhu Thakur no incident was reported from any parts of the both districts.

“We have sufficient deployment of force to tackle any untoward incident and instill a sense of confidence into people”. But coal transportation was also affected in Bermo and Giridih.