The Harihurganj block office on National Highway 98 bore the brunt of Maoist wrath during the two-day bandh called by the rebels.
The Naxals exploded two cylinder bombs on the premises, 71 km from Daltonganj. The first explosion occurred at 11.30 pm. Thirty minutes later, there was another blast. The nazir office and godown there suffered damages.
A fire destroyed official papers and records there. According to SP AT Mathew and CRPF 134 battalion Commandant Anil Minz, cylinder bombs were used. Mathew added that there was no loss of life and the security reaction team (SRT) reached there soon. Security forces opened fire and lobbed a couple of bombs, causing the Naxals to flee after splitting into two groups. One headed for Bihar and the other to Palamau. The Harihurganj block office is hardly 200 metres from the Bihar border
Minz said the CRPF too extended security cover to Harihurganj BDO P Ojha and his family, who live in the block compound. There was a danger that the Maoists would surround the BDO and his family.