Naxals set vehicles afire, block roads during Bastar bandh

Raipur: Naxals resorted to looting and arson besides uprooting a railway track in restive Bastar region in Chhattisgarh during the one-day 'Dandkaranya bandh' called by them, police said.

Maoists set on fire three vehicles at Nareli Ghati between Bhansi and Bacheli areas under Bhansi police station limits in Dantewada district in early hours, police said.

In another incident in Bastar district, rebels looted a walkie-talkie handset, a mobile phone and a computer terminal from the office of station master of Kaknoor railway station, senior police officials told PTI/Bhasha on condition of anonymity.

The call for bandh in Dandkaranya, a stretch of forest that runs through the states of Chattisgarh, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra was given in protest against government policies and Operation Green Hunt, police said.

The anti-naxal operation is an "all-out offensive" believed to have been launched by government in November 2009 along five states in the "Red Corridor".

When contacted, Additional DGP (Naxal Affairs) R K Vij said, "Naxal leaders have organised the bandh as they are incensed by a spate in naxal cadres surrendering before police. The purpose of bandh is to show their relevance."

He said barring interior areas in Bastar range, traffic is smooth in other areas.

Naxals uprooted a railway track near Tudparas village in Dantewada district, affecting services on Kirandul- Vishakhapatnam route. They also blocked traffic on Sukma Road near Katekalyan village by felling a tree.

In Narayanpur district, ultras felled a tree on Ravghat road blocking the stretch. Similarly traffic in Kondagaon, Orchha and Antagadh roads remained shut.

Similar blockades were placed in Sukma district as well, with naxals damaging a stretch on the National Highway-30 near Rokel and Keratong villages.

Flow of traffic was also blocked by felling trees and digging up roads in Kanker district of Bastar region and at many places in Bijapur district.

Police teams have already been fanned out to prevent any violence and to help agencies in restoring normalcy.

Meanwhile, a naxal, identified as Sondhar, was arrested from Kondagaon district in Bastar region today while his accomplices escaped after spotting police.