In a first, Maoists SMSing for poll boycott in Bihar

In a first, Maoists are using SMS service to appeal to people to boycott the Lok Sabha polls in Bihar and neighbouring Jharkhand, police officials said Monday.

"Maoists are sending bulk SMSes to mobile-phone subscribers and appealing to them to boycott the ensuing general elections," a police official said.

The SMSes were issued on behalf of the Communist Party of India-Maoist border zonal committee spokesperson Avinash.

"In the SMSes, Maoists have urged workers, farmers, youth, women, progressive intellectuals, senior citizens, nationalist and revolutionary people to boycott the polls," police said.

The CPI-Maoists also appealed to its party cadres and its different units, including People's Liberation Guerrilla Army, through SMSes to target and attack security forces during the election.