Ranchi, April 22 (IANS) Maoist guerrillas have called for a shutdown in Jharkhand Saturday to protest the ongoing demolition drive in the state, police said Friday.
‘All the district police chiefs have been alerted in light of the Maoist shutdown called Saturday,’ a police spokesman said. Security of railway tracks, important government buildings and other key installations has also been beefed up.
The Maoists have termed the demolition drive as against the poor people, alleging that it is going to help the capitalist class.
In the last one-and-half months, more than 4,600 illegal structures have been demolished in the state, affecting more than 100,000 people. In the next two to three weeks, the ongoing drive, on the directive of the Jharkhand High Court, could render more than 500,000 people homeless.