Maoist shutdown hits life in Chhattisgarh

Vehicles stayed off the roads and businesses were shut in southern districts of Chhattisgarh on Saturday in response to a bandh call given by Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) guerrillas.

Vehicles stayed off the roads and businesses were shut in southern districts of Chhattisgarh on Saturday in response to a bandh call given by Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) guerrillas.

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The strike made a strong impact in forested interiors of Dantewada, Bijapur, Narayanpur, Bastar and Kanker districts, a senior police officer told IANS, adding that the urban areas were not affected.

He said that transporters did not run their vehicles even on national highways in the five districts that jointly form the 40,000 sq km restive Bastar region. Business establishments downed their shutters in Dantewada and Bijapur.

The outlawed CPI-Maoist had called for the bandh since Thursday to observe the anniversary of its military wing the People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA).

However, no violence was reported from the state, where Maoists have a strong base in 10 of its 18 districts.