Maoists call for 48 hour shutdown in rebel hit states

Various factions of Maoists have jointly called for a 48 hour shutdown since Monday in six states of eastern and central India to protest against the Operation Green Hunt, the anti Maoist operation launched by the central and respective state governments. The affected six states are Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal and Orissa in eastern India while the other two are Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh in central part of India. In Jharkhand, the impact of the shutdown was felt much in the rural areas, where the rebels reportedly have a stronghold. Many trains were diverted to different stations.