Maoist bandh begins in the State

(image) Bhubaneswar: The Orissa bandh called by the Maoists on Monday, demanding the release of people arrested on charges of being Maoists and calling off the combing operations, had partial effect in the State.

The bandh was called by the spokesperson of CPI (Maoists) Sabyasachi Panda through a press release, even as the State government is weighing options for the release of the ultras, compelled by the demands of the rebels for the release of Malkangiri DC and an engineer.

While the bandh had no impact in the Capital, while partial affect of the bandh was witnessed in the naxal-infested areas.

The impact of the shutdown was felt at some places in Jeypore, Malkangiri, Gajapati, Kandhamal as government buses stopped plying. Though there was no effect of the bandh on shops and business establishment in most of the areas in Gajapati district.