Maoists blow up school building in Jharkhand

Ranchi: Maoist rebels blew up a school building in Chatra district of Jharkhand, the police said Thursday.

According to the police, around 50 to 60 rebels belonging to Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) blew up a primary school which comes under Pratappur police station in Chatra district, some 200 km from Ranchi late Wednesday.

Security personnel had earlier camped at the school and that might be the reason why the rebels blew up the building, the police added.

Last month, Maoist rebels had blown up a school building in Palamau district citing the same reason.

At present, 40 school buildings in Jharkhand are being used by security personnel engaged in anti-Maoist operations.

Maoist rebels are active in 18 of the 24 districts of the state. In the last seven years, more than 1,300 people, including civilians and Maoist rebels, have been killed.