Normal life was thrown out of gear in the Maoist-affected Malkangiri district on Tuesday due to a 12-hour bandh called by the Red rebels protesting against the death of their cadres in various police encounters.
Road communication in the district was hit as Government buses remained off the roads due to the protest. Besides, shops and other business establishments remained closed due to the protest.
The Andhra-Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee of CPI(Maoist) had called for the bandh to protest the death of Maoist Meena on October 12 and two other cadres Sushil and Sulita on November 5 in police encounters.
Maoist posters in Madakapadar in Malkangiri district threatened locals in the region not to carry out development activities in the region. The Maoists have also threatened to punish them in Kangaroo court if they flout their diktat..Meanwhile, security forces were on high alert and frisking of vehicles was carried out to keep a watch on suspicious elements at several places in the district to maintain law and order and avoid any untoward incident during the protest.
In the adjacent Koraput district, private and Government buses stayed off the roads putting the commuters in great inconvenience. Besides, shops and other business establishments also remained partially closed.
