Naxals hold up traffic in Bastar

Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh, Jul 28 (UNI) On the first day of the 'Shahidi Saptah' (martyrdom week) being observed by the Maoist Naxals in Chhattisgarh, road and train traffic were held up today at different places in Bastar division bordering Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Orissa.

Naxals observe 'Shahidi Saptah' from July 28 to August 3 to pay homage to their former comrades, police said.

Railway sources said that a passenger train plying between Vishakhapatnam and Bailadila would ply upto Jagdalpur till August 3.

It was also decided that goods trains would not operate during the nights.

Vehicles were not being operated on Bhanupratappur, Pankhanjoor, Koyalibeda, Narayanpur road in Kanker district, Kondagoan -Narayanpur-Orchha road in Bastar and Narayanpur districts, Dantewada-Sukma-Konta, Geedam, Bijapur-Bhopalpatnnam roads in Dantewara district.

Elaborate security arrangements were made in this regard.

There are 300 deserted villages in South Bastar region as the tribals left them to take shelter in relief camps due to increased hostilities since the anti-naxal Salwa Judum movement was launched with government support in June 2005.

UNI XC-KV SP SP RK1615