Frequent Maoist shutdown calls disturb normal life in Bastar

New Delhi. 1 (ANI): After tactically retreating from Lalgarh in West Bengal following an armed counter-offensive on the orders of the State and Central Governments, the Maoists have trained their sites on Bastar district in Chhattisgarh.

Frequent shutdown calls issued by the Naxals has disrupted normal life in the region. In particular, people using the rail link from Jagdalpur in Bastar to the rest of the country, have faced the brunt of these shutdowns.

"I keep traveling for my business purpose and after arriving here I came to know that the train is not coming anymore and might not come for the next two more days. Many a time, the Maoists issue a threat saying the train should not move beyond Jagdalpur and, we face a lot of difficulty. The bus fare is also more expensive than the train," said Manoj Pandey, a stranded passenger.

M R Nayak, station in charge, Jagdalpur, informed that the Maoist hold in the region is so strong that as soon as the shutdown is announced, the train services are stopped immediately.

"Whenever there is any Maoist threat, we get the order from our superiors and then stop the movement of trains," Nayak said.axals call for frequent shutdowns to make their presence felt in the region. But the common man suffers the most.

"Due to the Maoist violence and their frequent calls for shutdown, the common men are affected a lot. In fact recently in Bastar, when the Maoist stopped the movement of vehicles, a man who had fallen ill and had to be taken to Narayanpur for immediate treatment, died," said P B Ramna, Internal Security Instructor.

According to the state finance department, a one-day shutdown causes a huge loss of 2700 crore rupees to a state. (ANI)