Impact of the country-wide bandh, called by Srikakulam-Koraput division of CPI (Maoist) on Wednesday, could be felt only in interior pockets where shops and business establishments were closed. In urban centres, life remained unaffected.
Security was tightened in Red-hit zones of Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, Nabarangpur and Ganjam districts to prevent any untoward incident.
While opposing the proposed National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), the Maoists are demanding halt to Operation Green Hunt and combing operation and closure of CRPF camps.
While private bus services from Jeypore to Malkangiri and on Boipariguda-Lamtaput-Rayagada route have been cancelled, the State-owned Odisha State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC) plied its buses from Jeypore to Cuttack, Bhubaneswar and Berhampur via Rayagada through Andhra Pradesh route.
In Narayanpatna and Bandhugaon blocks, buses to Andhra Pradesh were cancelled.
Train services from Koraput to Bhubaneswar, Sambalpur and Howrah were normal. Shops and business establishments also remained open.
An alert was sounded and a thick security blanket thrown to prevent any trouble.
“We are prepared to meet any eventuality. Patrolling has been stepped up,” SP Awinash Kumar said.
PHULBANI: The bandh evoked mixed response in Kandhamal district.
Vehicles remained off the road in vulnerable blocks of Daringibadi, Kotagarh,
Tumudibandha and buses plying from Rayagada to Phulbani and Jeypore to Phulbani were cancelled. Shops in some blocks downed their shutters.
Vehicles were being checked in Kandhamal district in view of the bandh. Security forces were also deployed in the vulnerable areas in the district, Kandhamal SP J N Pankaj said. Combing operation was intensified in border areas of Ganjam-Gajapati-Kandhamal district by security forces.
