Its a low-key affair in south Orissa

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Source: The Hindu (http://www.hinduonnet.com/2010/01/27/stories/2010012753010300.htm)
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Its a low-key affair in south Orissa


Staff Reporter



Naxal threat casts shadow on celebrations at several places


BERHAMPUR: Republic Day was celebrated under the cloud of panic of Maoists in south Orissa on Tuesday.
The bandh call by Maoists and their spurt of violence kept the south Orisas districts in a panicked state. It affected the Republic Day celebrations. The official functions at district headquarters like Koraput, Malkangiri, Rayagada, Paralakhemundi were held amid tight security. The ministers flew down by helicopter to attend these functions to dodge security threat of the Maoists.
Despite tight security, Maoists resorted to arson near Dudhari in Semiliguda block in Koraput district. They burnt down vehicles and machines of a private construction company on Monday night. Nine workers of the company were abducted and taken to jungle. They were later released. Panic of naxals reigned in volatile naxal-prone Narayanpatna block. General public could not dare to celebrate Republic Day daring the threat of Maoists. National flag was hoisted in the police station of Narayanpatna amidst tight security.
State Minister Sarada Nayak hoisted the national flag at Koraput town. Another Minister Puspendra Singh Deo was the guest in district-level function at Malkangiri town and Minister Anjali Behera took the salute at Rayagada town. In several interior areas, flags were not hoisted in schools and offices out of fear. Posters and banners of Maoists had come up threatening teachers to face death if they hoist national flag on Republic Day. To show up their presence in Ganajm district, Maoists blocked a road by felling trees near Shergarh.
In most parts of south Orissa general life remained disrupted. Since past two days the Orissa State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC) and private bus owners of south Orissa had decided not to ply their buses due to fear of naxal bandh. Vehicular traffic remained disrupted in Malkangiri, Rayagada, Koraput and Gajapati districts. The commuters in these remote tribal districts had to face a harrowing time as railway transport services were also cancelled in wake of the bandh call. The Hirakhand and Samaleswari express trains were terminated at Rayagada rather than travelling to Koraput station. Trains from Visakhapatnam through Koraput district were also cancelled.
Red alert has been sounded in all parts of the tribal regions of south Orissa along with special security arrangements. No major untoward incident or naxal violence was reported during the period. But the terror of naxal diluted the Republic Day celebrations in south Orissa.






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