Maoists blow up bridge in Orissa, disrupt normal life in bandh

Maoists blew up a bridge and blocked roads to disrupt traffic as normal life was affected in southern Orissa on the second day of the week-long shut-down called by the ultras against Operation Green Hunt, police sources said.

They blew up the culvert on a road near Bandhugaon by triggering a landmine blast which paralysed vehicular movement between Koraput and places in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, the police said.

The bandh called by Maoists demanding halt to special anti-Naxal operation and withdrawal of security forces hit normal life in southern Orissa, particularly Koraput and Malkangiri districts due to blockade of vital roads.

The rebels fired a few rounds in the air in Chitrakonda area of Malkangiri in an apparent bid to mislead security forces, the police said.

Vehicular movement on Jeypore-Malkangiri road was hit due to felling of trees by Maoists at several places, while Narayanpatna-Bandhugaon road was also blocked, sources said.

Road blockade was also resorted to by the rebels in Tanginiguda and Gobindpalli areas on Malkangiri-Koraput border areas, bringing movement of vehicles including passenger buses to a halt, they said.

The Maoist guerrillas also put up posters and banners in several places opposing anti-Naxal operations and force mobilisation, while securitymen kept vigil and intensified patrolling to prevent untoward incidents.