Chhattisgarh observes bandh to protest Naxal attacks

Opposition Congress-sponsored shutdown in Chhattisgargh today evoked good response with most of the business establishments and educational institutions remaining close in the state. The day-long state-wide bandh was called to protest the rising Naxal attacks in the state, the latest being in Rajnandgaon, where 30 policemen, including the district SP, were killed in a Maoist ambush on Sunday. It was also against the BJP Government's failure to prevent such attacks.
       
Business establishments, schools, colleges, theatres, petrol pumps and markets remained closed in the state capital and other towns. Most vehicles were off the roads in Raipur. Reports reaching here from other parts of the state said that in Bilapsur traders and citizens supported the bandh and condemned the latest Naxal attack.
       
In Rajnandgaon, business establishments downed shutters, while a holiday was declared for schools and colleges in the district. In Manpur, where the Sunday's incident took place, the villagers are still in terror and not coming out of homes after sunset, sources said. The impact of bandh was also seen in urban areas of Korba, Raigarh and Naxal-hit Bastar region.
       
Congress spokesperson Ramesh Valryani said the good response to the bandh signifies that violence has no place in democracy.