The Hindu : Other States / Orissa News : Bandh peaceful on second day

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, May 24, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Other States

Other States - Orissa

Bandh peaceful on second day

Staff Reporter

Police clear roads for traffic

Naxalites dug ditches and fell trees
Bandh call was against encounter killings

BERHAMPUR: The second day of the four-day bandh call given by Maoists passed off peacefully in Malkangiri district on Friday.

According to Malkangiri Superintendent of Police Satish Gajbhiye, the CRPF and Orissa police personnel managed to clear all major roads of the district that were blocked by naxalites.

The naxalites dug ditches and cut down trees to block three main roads passing through the naxal-infested district. The roads, which connect the district headquarters Malkangiri with Motu, Chitrakonda and Orkel were open for regular traffic, said Mr. Gajbhiye.

The Public Works Department also started repairs to the roads at the places where they were dug up. The naxals also used deceptive techniques to kill policemen through landmine blasts during the bandh. One such attempt was thwarted by the policemen.

On the Malkangiri-Kalimela road, the Maoists placed banners on the road at three places where they had dug it up. Police did not find any landmine at first two places. But at the third place a powerful landmine was planted.

Maoists are trying to kill policemen to avenge deaths of two of their cadres in an encounter with police on May 16. The Maoists gave the bandh call in protest against the killing of their cadre in an encounter.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Other States