Thaindian News

Bhubaneswar, April 28 (IANS) Vehicles stayed off roads and shops downed shutters in several areas of Orissa’s Malkangiri district Thursday in response to a 24-hour shutdown called by Maoists, police said.

Both private and commercial vehicles stayed off roads in Kalimela and Motu areas fearing attacks, a police officer told IANS.

The shutdown was called as the rebels have accused the state government of breaching an agreement with three mediators who facilitated the release of abducted Malkangiri District Collector R. Vineel Krishna and junior engineer P.M. Majhi.

Krishna and Majhi were abducted by the guerrillas in February when they were inspecting developmental work in the region. The two officials were released about a week later after hectic negotiations by the mediators chosen by the rebels.

The Maoists freed the officials when the government agreed to all their 14 conditions, including a halt to anti-rebel operations and release of about 700 tribals languishing in different jails across the state for alleged links with Maoists.

The posters pasted by the left wing extremists in villages and towns in the district warned the government of dire consequences for resuming anti-Maoist operations and not releasing the “innocent tribals”, the police officer said.

The district of Malkangiri, over 600 km from here, is considered a rebel stronghold.