Maoist bandh: Normal life affected in Odisha

Normal life was today affected in certain areas of the district due to a 12-hour bandh called by ultras in Dandakarayan area. The bandh call was given in support of various demands by Darabha division leader Vinod Kasav in Dandakarayan area, which is spread over the three adjoining states of Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh.

However, the impact of the bandh was felt only in eight bordering blocks, police said. Though there was no impact of the bandh in this district headquarter town, normal life was hit in Mathili and Padia blocks which formed part of Dandakarayan area, police said. Vehicular traffic remained off roads while schools and government offices and shops were closed.

As a precautionary measure, the state government had cancelled plying of government buses from various places to Malkangiri. Besides, movement of traffic to adjoining Chhatisgarh and Andhra was also affected due to digging of a road by the Maoists in Sukma district of Chhatisgarh, police added.

Meanwhile, police said in view of the bandh security arrangements have been tightened in the district and combing operations have been intensified. Dandakarayana area comprises Jagadalpur, Bastar, Sukma and Dantewada of Chhattisgarh, Visakhapatnam, Khamam and Konta of Andhra Pradesh and Malkangiri, Koraput and some parts of Nabarangpur district in Odisha.