Naxals indulge in disruptive activities in Gadchiroli

Nagpur, May 27 (UNI) State Transport (ST) buses could not ply today on routes to Etapalli in Gadchiroli district where naxalites had triggered a landmine blast to blow up a 200-metre-long bridge on Jhurri Nullah yesterday.

The roads, blocked by felled-trees, could not be cleared so far.

Talking to UNI over phone, Gadchiroli Superintendent of Police Sirish Jain said naxalites had given a three-day ''Bharat Bandh'' call on Thursday and had indulged in disruptive activities in the district.

The Naxals yesterday, on the second day of their ''bandh call'', triggered a landmine and blew up a bridge on Jhurri Nullah on Etapalli-Kasanapur Road. They also broke open an ''Anganwadi'' office at Fodewada village under Bhamraharh taluka and burnt it down.

They had also put branches of trees on the roads and blocked them. The naxals also burned the Yelchil-based telphone tower in Etapalli taluka due to which telephones and mobile services were totally disrupted.

Mr Jain said the decision not to ply ST buses in the district was taken as a precautionery measure in the wake of the destructive activities carried out by the Naxals. He, however, claimed that the ''bandh'' call had evoked no response from the people.

The Anti-Naxalites Squad has intensified its patrolling and has thwarted several attempts by Naxalites to destroy public property, he added.

UNI NNG MAZ VJ RAI2011