Six people die during the 48 hour-long shutdown forced by the MaoistsIndia News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

At least six people died including one civilian during the 48 hour-long shutdown forced by the Maoists. According to the Union Home Ministry, the Maoists were involved in 16 violent incidents during this period in five states—Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal , Orissa and Madhya Pradesh. They also targeted infrastructure such as railway tracks, tractors and trucks,telephone towers and a village panchayat building. On May 18, in West Bengal ’s Lakshmanpur Salboni in West Midnapore District the Maoists triggered an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) explosion while the Midnapore Police was patrolling in the area. No casualty or damage was reported in the incident. On the same day, in Badantpur Binpur in the District, the Maoists abducted and killed one Ajit Mandal an activist of the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist). In Bihar , on May 18, at Shivganj Barachatti in Gaya District the Maoists blasted a house of one Chandan Yadav, suspecting him as police informer. In Nanho Bigha in the District, the Maoists set ablaze the generator room of Airtel tower unit, completely damaging it. In Jharkhand, on May 18, the Maoists fired on a pick-up van causing injuries to the driver in Arani in Simdega District. In Chhattisgarh, on May 18, the Maoists exploded two IEDs and fired at the District Reserve Guards (DRGs) team while they were on a search operation in Kongera in Narayanpur District. No casualties were reported in the incident. On the same day, an encounter took place between special police officers (SPO) and the Maoists at Kadiagaon. Banners, electric wires were recovered from the spot. No casualties were reported in the incident. On the night between May 18 and 19, in West Bengal ’s Jhargram in West Midnapore District, extremists blew up railway track between Gidhni and Jhargram stations disrupting train services on Kharagpur-Tata Nagar section of South –Eastern Railway. A goods train was derailed due to the blast and driver of the train and his assistant suffered injuries. On the same night in Bihar ’s Jogia Barun in Aurangabad District, the Maoists set ablaze five tractors near a brick kiln. In Orissa, on the night between May 18 and19, the ultras blew up a village panchayat building at Bodigata Kailmela in Malkangiri District. On May 19, the Maoists triggered a landmine explosion in Tentulata in West Bengal ’s West Midnapore District killing five Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel including a Deputy Commandant. One Constable was injured in the incident. In Lodhasuli in the District supporters of the Maoists backed Police-e-Santrash Birodhi Janasadharaner Committee set ablaze a truck. In Bihar ’s Jamui District the Maoists manhandled two Indian Railway employees at Telwa Railwa Halt on May 19. In Chhattisgarh, at Bhanapur in Bastar District, the Maoists looted the entire consignment of a truck that was carrying over 16.5 tonnes of ammonium nitrate. The truck was proceeding to Raipur from Vishakhapatnam on May 19. On the same day, at Gadiras in Dantewada District in the state, an encounter took place between the Maoists and police, in which one ultra was killed and another was arrested. On the morning of May 20 at Pipra in Bihar ’s Champaran District extremists blew up railway tracks between Jivdhara and Pipra Railway Stations leading to the derailment of a diesel tanker train. Due to the derailment 14 compartments of the train caught fire. Railway authorities managed to separate remaining 37 ompartments.

Maoists target security forces, economic development during shut down