Naxal bandh hits normal life in tribal areas

Raipur, June 14 (UNI) Normal life in the remote tribal areas of Chhattisgarh was badly affected today, the first day of the 'road blockade' agitation by banned Communist Party of India (Maoists) to protest against the ongoing anti-Naxal movement 'Salwa Judum' in tribal Bastar region.

Reports reaching the state capital said markets and vehicular traffic remained closed in the of naxalite infested tribal areas of Dantewara, Kanker, Bastar and Sarguja districts.

Private bus operators did not run their services and private vehicles were also kept off the roads. There is no state road transport corporation in Chhattisgarh.

A police spokesman said here that no untoward incident had been reported so far. No vehicles were found plying on the inter-state routes with Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Maharashtra where the Maoists cadres are active.

Naxalites have their presence in almost 10 out of the total 16 districts of Chhattisgarh.

Communist Party of India (Maoists) have given the call for a nation-wide 'road blockade' agitation on June 14 and 15, alleging that the police and para-military forces were committing atrocities by using the innocent tribals as a 'human shield' in armed conflict.

CPI(Maoist) central committee general secretary Ganpathi issued a statement few days ago, alleging 'Salwa Judum' was not a spontaneous movement of the tribals against Maoists as was being propagated. He alleged the government and the para-military forces were using the locals as a 'human shield' in the armed conflict.

Pointing out that the nation-wide road blockade agitation was to highlight the atrocities being committed by 'Salwa Judum' mobs and the police, the Maoist leader claimed a large number of houses were set ablaze and many innocent people were killed ever since the 'Salwa Judum' movement began in June last year.

UNI JJ SP PR RK1645