Ranchi: Normal life remained peaceful as the 48-hour Jharkhand bandh called by the banned Maoist Communist Centre began on July 22 amidst tight security in the naxal-dominated districts.

Two battalions of the CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) and personnel from the Jharkhand armed police and rapid action force have been deployed for the bandh with intensified patrolling on highways and railway routes, official sources said.

Railway sources in Ranchi said a pilot engine carrying security forces would escort important trains.

Additional Director General of Police, J B Mohapatra said all possible steps had been taken to check violence, but denied sounding of 'red alert'.

Special attention had also been given to troubled spots and soft targets of the ultras, he added.

The bandh has been called to protest against the June 16 capital punishment awarded to three MCC (Maoist Communist Centre) activists by the Hazaribag Additional District and Sessions Judge, Ashok Kumar Chand, in connection with the Beltu massacre in 2001 in which 14 people had died.

Soon after the judgement, anti-judiciary posters appeared on the walls in the MCC stronghold areas. Fourteen out of 22 districts in Jharkhand are affected by the naxal menace.

PTI