Orissa bandh: Maoists say a ploy by Sangh Parivar

Bandh hits three Orissa districts
Berhampur, Orissa (PTI): Normal life was paralysed in riot-hit Kandhamal due to a 12-hour bandh called by a new outfit, claiming to be a splinter group of Maoists, in three south Orissa districts on Saturday.

While Gajapati district was partially affected, the bandh had little effect in Ganjam, official sources said.

A new organisation 'M', a splinter group of CPI (Maoist), was formally launched with the bandh to maintain the ideology of Maoists and to fight corruption, leaflets circulated in the districts claimed.

However, none of the organisers appeared in public to enforce the bandh.

Vehicular traffic in Kandhamal was disrupted and business establishments remained closed, but educational institutions and government offices were open, official sources said.


Kandhamal Superintendent of Police Praveen Kumar said no road blockade was reported from anywhere but vehicles remained off the roads as the owners did not want to take a risk.

While vehicles remained off roads at several places in Gajapati district, the effect of the bandh was felt at Mohana, R Udayagiri, Gumma and Raigada blocks of the district, officials said, adding it had no impact in the Ganjam district.

Meanwhile, police and intelligence officials said they were unaware of the outfit. "We are trying to ascertain their leaders and their activities," a senior police officer said.

Denying any split in cadre, a senior Maoist leader told a private Oriya news channel that it was part of a ploy by Sangh Parivar leaders to mislead people after their failure to enforce a bandh on December 25. source