Bhubaneswar: A bandh on Tuesday called by
Maoists annually commemorating `Kranti Diwas` in memory of
their leader Kranti Randev who was killed on this day in 2001
in Orissa, was peaceful and did not evoke much response in the
state.
Barring interior pockets in Malkangiri and Koraput
districts, the bandh had little impact in the state with
shops and business establishments remaining open and normal
traffic on the roads, police sources said.
Buses were off the roads in Maoist-hit areas like
Motu, Padia, MV-79 and Kalimela of Malkangiri district and
Narayanpatna, Bandhugaon and Baipariguda areas of Koraput.
The situation was normal and peaceful elsewhere in the
state including Rayagada, Gajapati, Ganjam, Kandhamal,
Mayurbhanj and Sundargarh districts, the sources said.
Security measures in areas bordering Jharkhand,
Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh were tightened, they said.
In Sundargarh district, long distance bus services to
neighbouring Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh from Rourkela remained
suspended as a precautionary measure.
All district collectors and SPs have been asked to
remain alert, Home Secretary U N Behera said.
On August 9, 2001 the Maoist leader was killed along
with others during an attack on the Kalimela and Motu police
stations in Malkangiri district. Five policemen were also
killed in the encounter.
PTI
