Berhampur: Vehicular traffic
was disrupted in Maoist-hit areas in Kandhamal district on Thursday,
the first day of the two-day bandh called by Maoists in
Orissa’s Ganjam and Kandhamal districts.
However, the bandh, called by the ultras in protest
against recent arrest of their three cadre, including two
from Chhattisgarh, evoked little response in Ganjam district.
The police arrested three cadre while they were coming
for medical check-up of one of the women, police said.
Vehicles were off the roads in Daringibadi, Bramhanigaon and Kotagarh areas in Kandhamal district and
shops and business establishments also downed shutters in
response to the bandh call.
Government offices, educational institutions, however,
were running as usual, said an officer.
There was no response to the bandh in Ganjam district,
the police said.
Passenger buses were running as usual while shops and
business establishments remained open in Maoist-hit areas in
Badagarh and Sorada areas in the district.
State government-owned Orissa State Road Transport
Corporation (OSRTC) had decided not to ply long-route buses
via Phulabani and Baliguda for two days due to the bandh call.
"We will not operate the buses via Phulbani and
Baliguda during the next two days," station master, OSRTC,
Berhampur unit, AK Mishra said.
While around 20 long-run vehicles run through
Phulbani, district headquarters town of Kandhamal, around 15
OSRTC buses ply via Baliguda daily.
Several private operators had also decided not to
operate their vehicles in these routes out of fear.
Meanwhile, security had been tightened in both the
districts following the bandh call as elections for the
three-tier panchayat was going on.
Elections for the fourth phase would be held in 1111
booths in four blocks in Ganjam and three blocks in Kandhamal
district tomorrow, the last day of two-day bandh.
Security has been tightened in Maoist-hit areas while
combing operation was continuing in the district, said SP
(Kandhamal) JN Pankaj.
PTI
First Published: Thursday, February 16, 2012, 18:14