Alert in Bihar as Maoist bandh begins from midnight

An alert has been sounded across Bihar in the wake of the 24-hour bandh call by the banned CPI(Maoist), beginning this midnight.

The Maoists have given a call for bandh in five states — Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Orissa and Chhattisgarh — to protest the rise in prices of essential commodities and petroleum products.

"All police stations have been put on a maximum alert to thwart any attempt by the Maoist rebels to disturb peace," Additional Director General of Police (Headquarters) Neelmani said.

He said patrolling has been intensified in vulnerable pockets in Patna, Gaya, Jehanabad, Nawada, Aurangabad, Kaimur, Rohtas, Banka, Munger, Lakhisarai and Jamui districts.

Patrolling of railway tracks, the often soft target of Naxalite attacks, has been heightened.

CRPF contingents have been deployed at Taregna in Naxalite-hit Masaurhi sub-division of Patna district where thousands of people, including foreign scientists and eclipse chasers, are gathering to view the full solar eclipse tomorrow.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is also scheduled to view the celestial spectacle at Taregna where Aryabhatta, the ancient astronomer-mathematician had an observatory.