Normal life was hit in Kalimela, about 45 km from here, following a bandh call by some Maoist-backed outfits on Saturday. These are Adivasi Biplab Raitakuli Sangha (ADBRCS) and Adivasi Biplab Mahila Sangha (ADBMS) - the two frontal organisations of the outlawed CPI (Maoist) outfit. While vehicular traffic remained off the roads, business establishments downed their shutters.
The Maoists blocked the Kalimela-Motu-Padia main road near Hatapada with posters pasted on walls and trees at some places in support of the bandh. A large number of passengers were stranded at bus stands at many places, while there was curfew-like atmosphere at Kalimela.
The bandh was called to seek fulfilment of their 13 demands. These include construction of Manyamkunda-Karkatpalli canal, government college status to the Plus Two and Plus Three colleges at Kalimela, paddy procurement centres in all villages, halt to Operation Greenhunt and filling up of the specialist doctor posts at Kalimela.
Elaborate security arrangements were made by police to prevent any untoward incident.