Bhubaneswar, Dec 8 (IANS) A statewide shutdown called by Maoists in Orissa Tuesday crippled life in parts of the state, an official said.
Private bus operators kept their buses off the roads in four Maoist-hit districts - Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada and Gajapati. However, no impact has been felt in the remaining parts of the state.

“Private buses are not plying in the four districts, fearing attack. The operators have kept the buses off road,” Deputy Inspector General of Police Sanjeeb Panda told IANS.

The shutdown was called to protest against the killing of two people in police firing last month.

At least two people were killed in Narayan Patna town, some 500 km from here, in Koraput district Nov 18. Police opened fire when a mob of over 300 people allegedly attacked a police station and looted weapons.

Police arrested more than 70 people from the area.

Leaflets and posters circulated by Maoist rebels in the districts on the eve of the shutdown have described the people arrested by the police as innocent.