Hazaribagh, June 22: Maoists blasted an important bridge over Konar river in Churchu block, 50km from district headquarters, at 2am today, ahead of their bandh call tomorrow.

The rebels issued a bandh diktat for Jharkhand, Bihar and Chhattisgarh to protest against the recent Palamau encounter.

The bridge, built four years ago, had cost Rs 70 lakh.

Around 25 rebels under Mithilesh ji's squad allegedly blasted the bridge.

State director-general of police D.K. Pandey, who was in Hazaribagh today, confirmed beefing up security for the Maoist bandh.

A grim Pandey said he was aware of the developments and had passed necessary instructions in this regard.

"We are on high alert and have taken proper bandobast to ensure no untoward incidents happen tomorrow," he said.

In the morning, DGP Pandey presided over the passing-out parade at Rani Jhansi Ground of BSF Training School and Centre, where 335 Railway Protection Force constables took an oath of selfless service.

Later, he met seven SPs of Bokaro, Hazaribagh, Ramgarh, Chatra, Giridih, Koderma and Dhanbad at Police Academy.

There, he spoke on Maoist offensives as well as on security measures in the wake of the gang war played out at district court on June 2, where gangster Sunil Srivastava and two aides were shot dead in court.

"CCTV cameras at entry and exit points of all state courts apart, we need watchtowers on campuses," he said. "The police will create a database of all active criminals."