Maoist strike shuts down two Orissa districts

BHUBANESWAR - A one-day strike called by Maoists saw buses staying off the roads and shops downing shutters in two districts of Orissa Monday, police said.

The Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) called for the strike in Malkangiri and parts of Koraput district after four of their cadres were gunned down by police Nov 4. The incident took place in Karlakuta village of Malkangiri, about 600 km from here. Maoists have claimed that the four killed were innocent villagers.

Both private and government bus operators kept their vehicles off the roads as a preventive measure, a senior police officer told IANS.

Fearing attacks, shops have also downed their shutters in several places, he said.

Security has been beefed up across the region. Additional forces have been deployed in strategic locations. No untoward incidents have been reported from any places so far, he added.