Insurgents disrupt Indian trains

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/7103176.stm

Version 0 of 1.

Insurgents in the eastern Indian state of Bihar have blown up a section of railway track, seriously disrupting regional rail networks.

Dozens of trains have been delayed or cancelled. There have been no reports of casualties.

It comes during a two-day strike called by Maoist rebels across eastern India.

They are protesting against the state government's handling of a land reform crisis in the state of West Bengal, neighbouring Bihar.

Sensitive

Rebels have called for the closure of shops and blocked roads across the region.

Although the strike has had some impact in rural areas, there has been only minimal disruption reported in major towns and cities.

The acquisition of farmland to make way for industrial zones is a highly sensitive political issue in India and has led to protests by farmers in several parts of the country in recent months.

This latest strike called by Maoist groups follows the violent conclusion of a long-running dispute in West Bengal earlier this month.

Local farmers and opposition groups in Nandigram - an area of villages earmarked for industrial development - had risen up in protest and for months barred access to police and state government supporters.

Even though the state government backed down and cancelled its development plans for the area, the protests continued, driven by local political feuding.

Thousands of families were forced to flee the area and are now sheltering in temporary camps.

In the final push to take control of Nandigram, Communist Party supporters have been accused by both the opposition and human rights groups of excessive violence, including rape and the burning down of hundreds of dwellings.

It is these actions by local gangs of Communist Party workers that have given rise to the latest protest strikes organised by Maoist groups, whose influence across northern and eastern India is giving the central government increasing cause for concern.