Ranchi/Patna, Oct 12 Maoists blew up a stretch of a railway track and set ablaze three trucks in Jharkhand as they began a two-day shutdown in Bihar and Jharkhand in protest against the Centre's alleged effort to put down the CPI (Maoists) movement by force.

According to sources, the incident took place at around 2:30 a.m. at Jharandih in Dhanbad due to which Shaktipunj Express was affected.

In another incident, Maoists set ablaze three trucks and have damaged a bridge, which connects Dumri to the Grand Trunk Road.

Around 12-armed Maoists set fire to the trucks at around 1:00 a.m. in Giridih District's Isri area.

Tight security arrangements have been made in Bihar and Jharkhand to avoid untoward incidents.

Maoists are active in 18 of the 24 districts of the State. Since Jharkhand was carved out of Bihar in 2000, 614 civilians and 290 security personnel have been killed in the state in Maoist related violence. (ANI)