Bihar government failed to tackle Maoists, says Lalu

In the wake of Naxal attacks, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad today said the Bihar government had "completely failed" in tackling the Maoists menace and accused it of "sleeping" while "anarchy" prevailed in the state.

"This Nitish Kumar government has completely failed. There are constant Naxal attacks and I just heard that there has been a train hijack," Prasad told reporters here. "There is complete anarchy and while the attacks are on, the Nitish Kumar government is sleeping," he said.

Maintaining that the government had failed to take stock of the situation arising out of the Maoists threat, the RJD chief said, "Law and order is a state subject. Law and order has failed in the state."

About 75 people were today taken hostage by Maoists after they stopped a passenger train near Hehegarha railway station in Latehar district during their 24-hour Jharkhand-Bihar bandh. The train was later released by the ultras after over four hours of detention.