Himalayan News Service

Patna, January 19:

Maoists have threatened to back their call for a boycott of upcoming assembly elections in Bihar and Jharkhand with violence. According to police today, the Communist Party of India (Maoist) vowed to intensify guerrilla attacks in the run up to the elections beginning on February 3.

Intelligence agencies have alerted the Bihar police about the possibility of stepped up violence by the rebels to create fear among voters and disrupt the election process. Already the CPI (Maoist) has issued pamphlets to villagers asking them not to vote. The first phase of balloting in Bihar will be held in 12 Maoist-dominated districts including Gaya, Jehanabad, Arwal, Aurangabad, Nawada and Banka. Earlier this month, Munger Superintendent of Police KC Surendra Babu and five of his colleagues were killed when Maoists set off an explosive device.