Ranchi: Barring Maoist pockets near the state`s border with Orissa, the 24-hour shutdown in two states called by the CPI (Maoist) on Thursday failed to evoke response in Jharkhand.
The shutdown only partially affected the villages adjoining Saranda forest, police said.
Life in all other districts was normal, they said.
The bandh was called by the CPI (Maoist`s) Jharkhand Regional Committee spokesman Samarjee against the proposed visit by Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh and the CRPF`s director general of Saranda forest this month.
Ramesh had visited a couple of districts, including Gumla, last month and told the media that Left-wing extremism could be controlled through development of rural areas.
After a special joint anti-Maoist operation in Saranda forest from July 31, the Jharkhand and the CRPF personnel had smashed several rebel bunkers and "disturbed" the eastern regional headquarters of the CPI (Maoist), which was guiding the Maoist movement in all the eastern states, according to a police communique issued in August.
Police had also destroyed the rebels supply lines and information network during that operation.
Meanwhile, a report from Orissa said the Maoist shutdown evoked partial response in remote villages and semi-urban places of Sundargarh district bordering Jharkhand.
Shops remained closed and bus service to remote areas was disrupted while movement of trucks and heavy vehicles on National Highway-215 was also restricted.
PTI
