Maoists Halt Nepal’s Only Railway

Excerpt from report by Radio Nepal on 18 March

The Janakpur-Jayanagar Railway, Nepal’s only railway spanning 29 km, has halted services because terrorists set fire to two culverts and a ticket counter at Baidehi Railway Station last night. According to the railway, the terrorists also removed the railway tracks in some places. Thousands of passengers have been left stranded after the only transport link between Nepal and India in the area was disrupted.

A Maoist terrorist was arrested by security forces in Dhanusha while he was fleeing after lobbing a socket bomb at a security patrol. The patrol had suddenly come across Maoist firing, leading to retaliatory action by the forces. A so-called area committee member was arrested in the resulting chase. [name omitted]. Two socket bombs and a sawn-off gun was also seized from him, according to police.

Traffic on the Kalu Pande Road, obstructed for two days by Maoists, has resumed. Maoists had piled boulders and logs at a place called Wangchung, creating obstacles on the road. Security forces removed the obstructions last night.