Bhubaneswar, July 28 (IANS) Buses and commercial vehicles went off the roads in parts of Orissa as Maoists Wednesday began observing ‘Martyrs’ Week’ in memory of rebel leaders killed by security forces, police said.
‘Government and private buses are not running in the interior areas of Malkangiri, Rayagada and Gajapati districts. The operators kept vehicles off the road for fear of a Maoist attack,’ a police officer said.
The rebels have put up posters and distributed leaflets in many places of these regions asking people to join hands with them in the so-called war they have launched against the government and the system.
Maoists have presence in more than half the state’s 30 districts. Malkangiri, Rayagada and Gajapati districts are considered their strongholds.
‘We have beefed up security in interior areas. Security forces and the local administration have been told to remain alert,’ he added.
Charu Majumdar, founder of India’s Maoist movement, had died in police custody July 28 in 1972. The guerrillas have been observing ‘Martyr’s Week’ since then.
