Hyderabad, July 7 (IANS) The 48-hour shutdown called by the outlawed Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) to protest the killing of their spokesperson Azad evoked partial response in parts of Andhra Pradesh Wednesday.
The shutdown affected normal life in Maoist-infested tribal areas in the districts bordering Orissa and Chhattisgarh as authorities suspended bus services and cancelled few trains as a precautionary measure.
The call also evoked partial response in remote areas of Adilabad district, where Chelukuri Rajkumar alias Azad was killed by police in an alleged gun battle last week. The response, however, was poor in other parts of Telangana, which was once a stronghold of Maoists.
Police sounded a high alert in areas bordering Orissa and Chhattisgarh borders in view of the warning by intelligence agencies that Maoists could carry out attacks to avenge the killing of their top leader.
Additional forces were deployed in Vijayanagaram, Srikakulam and Visakhapatnam districts bordering Orissa and Khammam district adjoining Chhattisgarh.
According to Vijayanagaram Superintendent of Police Navin Gulati, patrolling has been intensified to prevent any Maoist activity.
Police have also advised the politicians in the region not to move into interior areas without proper security.
The railway authorities cancelled some trains in the areas bordering Orissa and Maharashtra in view of the reported threat by Maoists to target trains.
East Coast Railways cancelled Howrah-Hyderabad East Coast Express and either effected changes in the timings of some other trains or diverted them.
South Central Railway has also partially cancelled few trains passing through Maharashtra. The trains on Mudkhed-Adilabad section have been affected. SCR partially cancelled Tirupati-Adilabad Krishna Express between Kinwat (Mahrashtra) and Adilabad. Adilabad-Nanded special train has also been partially cancelled.
Nagpur-Mumbai CST Nandigram Express will run only up to Adilabad and has been cancelled between Adilabad and Mumbai.
