Jharkhand News : Train operations were suspended on the Karampada–Rourkela rail section near the Jharkhand–Odisha border after Maoist posters and banners were discovered early Sunday morning. The precautionary step was taken by the Indian Railways in response to potential threats posed by the extremists, who had called for a 24-hour bandh on August 3 across five states: Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, Bihar, and Chhattisgarh.
According to official sources in the railway department, the Maoist posters were found between Roxy and Renjda stations under the Chakradharpur Railway Division. Following this, the movement of freight trains was immediately halted for safety reasons, although passenger services remained unaffected since the route primarily handles goods trains.
The posters, seen alongside railway tracks, carried anti-police slogans and called for a “people’s resistance” against alleged police atrocities. Adding to the tension, a section of railway track between Roxy and Renjda was reportedly damaged by an explosion carried out by Maoists late Saturday night, completely disrupting train movement in the region.
In response to the threat, railway officials and local police rushed to the site, and security has been heightened in the entire area. The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), along with local law enforcement, has launched intensive patrolling and search operations, especially in the Maoist-affected Saranda forest region.
While life in urban parts of West Singhbhum, such as Chakradharpur and Chaibasa, remained largely unaffected, rural and interior regions experienced a partial shutdown. Markets stayed closed and roads wore a deserted look amid fear of violence.
Railway authorities have confirmed that surveillance of the affected tracks is ongoing and that train services will resume only after complete security clearance. Intelligence agencies are closely monitoring the situation to prevent any further sabotage or threats to public infrastructure.
