Thaindian News

Ranchi, Mar 13 (ANI): The shutdown called by the Maoists in Jharkhand hit normal life including the transport and several allied essential services here on Sunday.

Amit Rai, a local said the frequent shutdowns calls by the Maoists have instilled fear among the people.

“When Maoists call for a shutdown there is a feeling of fear among the public. The Maoists usually target trains. They place explosives in the trains creating havoc causing danger to the lives of people,” said Rai.

“They are doing what they feel like, but we have to travel to go for work. Regular call of shutdowns is not a correct thing. People have to suffer a lot due to the shutdown,” he added.

Another local Rohit Kumar said that the shutdown has created a lot of problems, as the bus drivers fearing of an attack by the ultras refused to take the passengers.

“I have been waiting since morning for a bus but none of the vehicles are moving. We are facing a lot of problem,” said Rohit Kumar.

Jharkhand Director General of Police (DGP) G S Rath said that the shutdown call could have been as a mark of protest against the killing of Shashidhar Mahato, a Maoist who was gunned down in an encounter in West Bengal.

“We apprehended there might be a shutdown call from the Maoists because of the killing of Shashidhar Mahato. The Maoists blame us for the killing of Shashidhar Mahato. We have received information that Mahato was killed in a police encounter, but the Maoists blame us for murdering Mahato,” said Rath.

“If they (Maoists) have called a shutdown because of this reason, then we are also prepared for it,” he added.

According to reports, the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) has called for a 48-hour shutdown in West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar and Orissa beginning today to protest the ‘killing’ of its commander Sashadhar Mahato. (ANI)