A massive combing operation was launched on Thursday to trace a police officer allegedly abducted by Maoists in Orissa’s Keonjhar district as normal life remained disrupted in some parts of the state on the second day of the two-day Bharat bandh called by the rebels.
SOG and police personnel conducted combing operations in Daitari area in Keonjhar district where heavily-armed Maoists had attacked the police station and a forest office last night and abducted Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Umesh Chandra Marandi, police said.
Marandi is missing since the attack by about 80 heavily-armed ultras on Wednesday.
The bandh continued to disrupt road communication and business activities in some areas as Government bus service was suspended in Maoist-hit districts like Koraput, Gajapati, Malkangiri, Rayagada and Kandhamal leaving passengers stranded at many places, police sources said.
The ultras also blocked some roads in Malkangiri, Kandhamal and Koraput districts by felling trees.
A passenger train and some goods trains were suspended in Sundargarh district, while private buses also stopped plying in some areas fearing Naxal attack. Vehicular movement in several rebel—infested regions remained restricted as the bandh evoked mixed response in the state.
The bandh had little impact in urban areas though shops and business establishments remained closed in rural pockets of Malkangiri, Gajapati, Koraput, Rayagada, Keonjhar and Sundargarh.
