Naxal attack: Injured cop dies, bandh call in 5 states

PATNA, 23 AUG: With another policeman succumbing to injuries, the toll in the Naxal attack on a police patrol here mounted to five today, even as the state government announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh and a job to the kin of each victim. Maoists had attacked a police patrol with bombs and bullets in Jamui district last night while they were returning to the police station after routine patrolling in the areas, notorious for Maoist activities. The body of a Naxalite was also recovered from the spot of yesterday's ambush with police claiming that several other extremists may have been killed in the encounter that broke out after the attack. “One more Special Auxiliary Police (SAP) jawan succumbed to injuries at a hospital in Jamui,” ADG (headquarters) Mr Neelmani said. Meanwhile, police have launched a massive combing operation in the areas to nab the fleeing Maoists involved in last night's attack. Police officials said the operation was being jointly carried out by the police in Bihar and neighbouring Jharkhand with the CRPF and STF (Special Task Force) jawans assisting them. The attack has come as a rude shock to the state administration which was rather concentrating on fighting the twin problem of drought and floods at the same time. The Bihar government has declared famine in 26 districts out of total 38 but at least six districts in north Bihar are currently in the grip of floods and the flood situation in Darbhanga is really grim.
The Maoists have given a call for two-day bandh from tomorrow in Bihar and four other neighbouring states in protest against the arrest of two of their comrades by the Bihar police. The duo were reportedly arrested near Patna on 19 August while they were travelling in a train.
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