Tumudibandh: In an attempt to enforce a 24-hour Odisha bandh Friday, members of banned CPI-Maoist party blocked the stretches of NH-59 connecting Daringbadi – Baliguda and Gopalpur – Raipur by felling logs on the road.
According to a source, the trees were chopped and kept on the road Thursday night to block road communication. Besides, the Red Rebels have put up banners asking people to join their struggle against the government.
The Maoists have accused the government to be conspiring to hand over forest resources to multinationals. They have also urged the citizens to take part in the ‘Red Revolution’ to establish a democratic and secular government. The ultras have also posted the October and November edition of a monthly mouthpiece named ‘Biplabi Dengura’.
The road blockade led to traffic disruption and caused inconvenience to the passengers travelling on these routes. Emergency services including healthcare have been hit. An ambulance could be seen waiting on the road at Daringbadi –Baliguda stretch.
The roads were not cleared immediately, since Tumudibandh police fears landmines could have been planted at the site. The locals, meanwhile, are in panic over the incident. That said, there is little effect of the bandh call in the district or anywhere else in the state apart from disrupted road communication on NH-59.
It may be mentioned here that felling trees and putting up banners is a regular tactic used by Maoists to gain media attention.