Maoists protesting against killing of a woman zonal commander of their banned outfit set at least 30 trucks on fire past midnight on Sunday on the busy Grand Trunk road in Gaya district of Bihar.

In protest of the killing and arrest of six other alleged naxals last week in Gaya, the protesting Maoists had given a two day bandh call in the region.

The killed woman commander was carrying a Rs.15 lakh-reward on her head and among those arrested were Maoist's Magadh range secretary Upendra Baitha alias Sanjeevan, Gaya police said.

At least 30 vehicles were set on fire in Amas area of Gaya district causing disruption in traffic movement on the GT road.

“Acting on a tip-off that some Maoists had gathered at a place to collect Rs. 2 crores from a construction company, four companies of CRPF's COBRA battalion rushed there and in the ensuing encounter a top level woman Maoist was killed and another injured”, said the Gaya police.

 “In view of the two day bandh call by the Maoists, we’re taking all precautionary measures to thwart any untoward incident”, Manu Maharaj, Gaya police chief said.
(The Hindu)