RailEnquiry

Maoists started their protest week on Friday on a violent note by disrupting transportation modes by digging up roads and felling trees on them at several places in Bastar region even as they hacked a labourer returning from a mela to death.They tried to make concentration near an iron ore mine in Dantewada area but retreated after being challenged by security forces at a nearby check-post.Meanwhile, the State Government on Friday alerted the paramilitary forces deployed in internal areas of the conflict zone, Bastar, fearing fresh spat of violence by the Maoists. Operation of passenger trains running on K-K Line and services of goods trains during night have also been suspended beyond Jagdalpur till June 7.The Dandakaranya special zonal committee of the Maoists organisation has called for a week-long protest on the last day of which they would observe 24-hour Dandkaranya bandh on June 7 against "Operation Green Hunt", presence of Army in Bastar and allocation of iron ore mines to business houses.K-K Line, linking Vizag to Kirandul via Araku, Koraput and Jagdalpur is the vital link for carrying fine quality of iron ore produced by NMDC Ltd, India's largest iron ore producer and exporter in public sector, at Bacheli and Kirandul mines in Chhattisgarh to port city Vishakhapatnam.To compensate the loss to be incurred after suspension of goods train during night hours, jumbo goods rail rakes have been attached to trains, will be running during day hours, the railway sources said.Meanwhile, the police administration has increased patrolling not only in rural but also sub-urban areas. Searching of vehicles running on national highways has also been increased.On the eve of the proposed "protest week" a meeting of all the seven District Collectors was held at the divisional headquarters Jagdalpur to take stock of the situations and for making arrangements to counter the violence expected to be perpetrated by Maoists during the next fortnight. After the protest week the Maoists also would observe "Janpitru week", to remember their founders and the so called martyrs.According to Bastar Inspector General of Police TJ Langkumer "Security forces including paramilitary jawans deployed in Bastar division have been put on alert in view of the protest week being observed by the Maoists. We have made all possible arrangements to contain violence the Maoists are indulging of late." Meanwhile, talking to The Pioneer, here on Friday State Home Minister Nankiram Kanwar said, "Maoists are indulging in senseless violence specially after the abduction of Sukma Collector Alex Paul Menon as the State Government has suspended all its activities in the region. Now, to contain their unmindful violence the State Government will soon launch 'Operation Haanka' (area domination drive ) under which maximum paramilitary jawans deployed in Bastar region will take part and after which we will launch "Operation Green Hunt" in a new way."