Thaindian News

Raipur, June 7 (IANS) Normal life was hit in the interiors of Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region Monday owing to the weeklong Maoist celebration, Jan Pituri, which began two days ago, officials said.
Buses were off the roads and train services to Kirandul in Dantewada district from Andhra Pradesh’s port city Visakhapatnam cancelled due to feared Maoist attacks during the Jan Pituri, which means revolutionary week.

“Maoists have dug up several key roads in Dantewada and Bijapur districts and also put heavy wooden logs to block roads. Buses are off the road even on National Highway 16 in Bijapur and National Highway 221 in Dantewada,” an official at the police headquarters told IANS.

A goods train from Visakhapatnam to Kirandul, an iron ore mining base of public sector NMDC Ltd, has been cancelled in the night for a week beginning June 5. The lone passenger train between the two locations has also been restricted to Jagdalpur.

Bastar Inspector General of Police T.J. Longkumer said Maoists have left pamphlets in several interior areas of Bastar asking people to observe Jan Pituri and not support the security forces.

About 2,000 people have been killed in Maoist related violence in the state since it came into existence in November 2000. The casualties include nearly 1,000 civilians and 650 policemen.