|  |
Advertisement
 |
|
| | |
| | In a major operation, around 300-armed squad of the outlawed CPI (Maoist) simultaneously attacked the block office, police station and the central bank at Righa in Sitamarhi district on Saturday evening. There were no reports of casualty or the magnitude of loot. Police were, however, finding is difficult to carry out operation in night due to landmine threat. Home Secretary Afzal Amanullah termed the incident as "serious" and a "challenge to the State administration". He said that there was general alert in the area. "Bihar Armed Police and SAP jawans are already there and reinforcement have been sent. We are trying to cut off the retreat route of the Maoists within the Indian Territory," he added. Amanullah said that despite protests by him as well as the Chief Secretary, the Centre had withdrawn 10 companies of the CRPF in view of the forthcoming UP polls. "It was a secret matter. The extremists seem to have come to know of it to carry out their attack," he added. Amanullah said that it was difficult to establish contact in Rega. "But the reports last received said that the sound of firing had stopped. The police have been asked to snap their return links, but take full precaution in view of landmine threat," he added. Additional Director General, Headquarters, Abhayanand said that details about the operation carried out by the extremists were awaited. DIG, Tirhut range, district magistrate and the superintendent of police have rushed to the spot with reinforcement. The district magistrate, Suman Kumar, told HT that preliminary reports suggested attack on the police station. "I had talks with the officials of Bank of Baroda branch in Righa. They had closed the gate at around 7 pm, while the Maoists were outside," he said, adding that it was turning out to be difficult to establish contact with the SP, MR Nayak. Reports reaching in Patna said that Maoists first surrounded the block office, 10 km away from Sitamarhi town, at around 6.30 pm and fired indiscriminately. Another group of the Maoists attacked the police station and engaged the cops in encounter while the third group carried out the operation in the Central Bank. However, it could not be confirmed whether the Maoists took away firearms from the police station. They, however, exploded bombs. There was no casualty figure available. According to reports, Nepali Maoists had organised a meeting in the adjacent gaur Bazaar locality in Nepal. The attack is being viewed as a sequel to the meeting. |
