Chhattisgarh: Naxal bandh turns violent, 2 killed

Naxals went on a rampage at several places in Chhattisgarh on the first day of the two-day bandh called by them.

The left-wing ultras killed two persons, including an abducted special police officer, set on fire some vehicles and damaged railway tracks.

Following these incidents, the police have sounded an alert and additional police force has been deployed, officials said.

Senior police officials told PTI that in Naxal-infested Dantewada district, a person named Kawasi Dev was shot dead by the Maoists and an abducted SPO Ramaiyya was killed in Bijapur.

"Kawasi Dev was killed by the Naxals in Dantewada as they mistook him to be a police officer. In Balud village, they set on fire a mixture machine and a truck," said Ankit Garg, superintendent of police (Dantewada district).

Police officials in Bijapur said, "The body of SPO Ramaiyya, who was abducted by Naxals from Cherpal village on May 18, was thrown on the road."

The violence has affected normal vehicular traffic and rail movement in the state.

"The only passenger train that runs in Dantewada district has been suspended for the time being, even though goods trains are running as usual. In order to disrupt the rail traffic, Naxals also ruptured the rail tracks at some points, which were detected and restored," Garg said.

Police officials said that while traffic movement in urban parts of Dantewada district was smooth, disturbances have been reported from interior areas.

In Bastar, the bandh has created fear and markets have remained closed. At some places, Naxals have also felled trees on the roads to disrupt the traffic, said the police.

The Left-wing ultras have given a call for a two-day bandh in Naxal-dominated areas in different states, protesting against the arrest of their 'central committee' members from Bihar.