Government quarters razed as Maoist bandh begins in Orissa

Maoists destroyed government quarters in Koraput district today as normal life was affected in southern Orissa on the first day of the week-long bandh called by them in the state and Andhra Pradesh against anti-naxal operations, police sources said.    Armed Maoists stormed into Podapadar in Narayanpatna area and razed two newly-constructed quarters for government employees, they said.    The ultras disappeared into the forest after the attack.    Meanwile, normal life was hit in the southern region of the state, particularly Koraput and Malkangiri districts due to blockade of roads.    Traffic on the Jeypore-Malkangiri road and the Narayanpatna-Bandhugaon road was disrupted as Maoists had felled trees at several places, the sources said.    Road blockades were also reported from Tanginiguda and Gobindpalli areas on Malkangiri-Koraput border.    The ultras put up posters and banners at several places opposing 'Operation Green Hunt'.    Yesterday, the Maoists had set ablaze a mobile phone tower and ransacked a liquor shop in Malkangiri district.