Bandh shuts down Koraput but life normal in Jeypore

KORAPUT: The dawn-to-dusk bandh called by Koraputia Jana Surakshya Sangha partially affected day-to-day activities in the district on Wednesday. The bandh was called to protest against the alleged police firing in Kandhamal in which five persons were killed.
Public vehicles remained off the road. The Sangha members picketed at various places by burning tyres and blocking the NH-26 passing through the district.While passengers were stranded at various bus stops, hundreds of goods-laden trucks were held up at checkpoints bordering Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh.
While educational institutions remained shut in some places, the bandh had little or no impact in Jeypore where government offices, colleges and markets remained open.
"In the pretext of anti-Maoist operation, police killed five innocent tribals. We demand the arrest of the policemen involved in the killings on murder charges," said D K Bali, president of the Sangha.
Police had stepped up security across the district to avoid any untoward incident. "The bandh call was peaceful and no violence was reported," said ASP (Koraput) V R Rao.
It may be mentioned here that five tribals were killed in the alleged police firing at Gumudumaha in Kandhamal district during an anti-Maoist operation on July 8.