Thaindian News

Bhubaneswar, Feb 7 (IANS) A daylong strike called by Maoists to protest against price rise and corruption affected life in southern districts of Orissa Monday with both private and commercial vehicles staying off the roads in several places, police said.There was no movement of government vehicles in Gajapati, Kandhamal, Malkangiri, Koraput and Rayagada districts, a senior official of the state intelligence department here told IANS.

Although private vehicles were playing in urban areas of these districts, their movement has been affected in the interior areas, he added.

However, shops, educational institutions and government and private offices were functioning as usual, he said.

The day-long strike did not have any impact in the remaining parts of the state, including the coastal and western belt.

Police are on alert in all the areas affected by left wing extremism. Additional forces have been deployed at strategic locations and patrolling has been intensified, he said.

Maoists, who are active in more than half of Orissa’s 30 districts, have pasted posters announcing the strike in different parts of the state.

The outlawed Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) has called a shutdown in many states to protest the rising prices of essential commodities and corruption.