Maoists Call Indefinite Bandh

The outlawed CPI (Maoist) on Friday called for an indefinite bandh in Koraput and Malkangiri districts from Saturday protesting Centre’s decision to deploy 40,000 more security personnel in Maoist infested areas here to intensify anti-Maoist operation.

Malkangiri Divisional Committee Secretary of CPI (Maoist) Punam Chandar, in an audio tape released on Friday, said no vehicle will be allowed to ply on roads and all commercial and business establishments in both the districts will remain closed during the bandh. However, hospitals and medicine are exempted, Chandar added. The Maoist leader appealed to people to oppose the operation against innocent people in the name of Maoists.

Claiming the responsibility for the blast of the block office at Podia, he said the attack was in protest against the fake Silakota encounter on September 24.  Meanwhile, both the districts have been put on high alert following the bandh call by the Maoists. Security has been beefed up in all the sensitive places while Border Security Forces, Special Operation Group jawans and District Voluntary Forces have been asked to keep a vigil on the situation during the bandh to prevent untoward incident.