Jharkhand shuts down to protest against Naxals

The state-wide shutdown called to protest against the Saturdays killing of 17 people in Jharkhands Giridih District by Naxals evoked mixed response today.

Ranchi, Oct 28 : The state-wide shutdown called to protest against the Saturday's killing of 17 people in Jharkhand's Giridih District by Naxals evoked mixed response today.

On Saturday, Naxals attacked the villagers of Chilkhadia with indiscriminate firing and exploded bombs at a cultural programme that killed former Jharkhand Chief Minister Babulal Marandi's son Anup Marandi.

Marandi's brother Nunulal, who was also present there, however managed to escape unhurt.

The dawn-to-dusk shutdown on Sunday, called by Marandi's Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Democratic), affected the road and rail traffic.

Buses and trucks remained off the roads in most parts of the State.

The movement of trains was worst hit in Dhanbad Railway Division.

Three Rajdhani Express trains to Howrah, Sealdah and Bhubaneswar were held up for several hours in various places in Dhanbad and Giridih Districts by protestors, a Railway official said.

Several other trains got delayed due to the protests.

The shutdown was total in Simdega, Gumla and Giridih, but evoked mixed response in Dumka, Pakur and Latehar districts.

Road transport services were also affected as protestors blocked the Grand Trunk Road at Nirsa, Chirkunda and Barvadih in Dhanbad.

Meanwhile, police have detained 54 supporters in Garwah.

ANI