Muzaffarpur, Feb. 7: Closed-circuit cameras were installed at Muzaffarpur railway junction for strict surveillance during today’s bandh called by Maoists.

The western zonal committee of Communist Party of India (Maoist) in Muzaffarpur, Sitamarhi, Sheohar, Motihari and Vaishali districts have sought people’s support against the skyrocketing prices of essential commodities and rise of inflation in the country.

Turki market of Minapur and Shivaipatti market remained closed through the day. The Maoists had pasted posters and pamphlets in Turki and Shivaipatti areas of Minapur and appealed the people to make the bandh a success.

The Maoists had also threatened the transporters to keep their buses, including commercial vehicles, off road during the bandh hours, which the transporters obeyed.

Station house officer of Minapur police station Gyaneshwar Jha said the traders belonging to Tirhut and Shivaipatti had shut their shops. Police, along with State Auxiliary Police, have intensified patrolling in the countryside areas to thwart any possible attack by Maoists.

There was no traffic on the Muzaffarpur-Sheohar, Sarhanchia-Rajepur and Minapur-Beluva roads. Railway Protection Force (RPF) inspector Rakesh Kumar said the policemen were observing a hawk-eyed vigil on the activities of suspicious people loitering around Muzaffarpur railway station.

Muzaffarpur superintendent of railway police Awadhesh Kumar said the monitoring of the railway stations and tracks has been increased.

The railways have also deployed personnel of Bihar Military Police (BMP), Muzaffarpur, and Bihar Military Police, Darbhanga, at various railway stations in the Muzaffarpur-Hajipur and Muzaffarpur-Samastipur sections.

They have also made static deputations at some of the vulnerable points in the vicinity of Kudhani railway station.

Senior superintendent of police, Muzaffarpur, Sunil Kumar, said the police stations falling under Naxalite-affected areas have been alerted.