The two-day Maoist bandh which began on Wednesday evoked lukewarm response in Orissa though government bus services in some areas were suspended as a precautionary measure.
Life remained unaffected across the State, including areas affected by the ultras, as shops, business outfits, banks, offices, schools and other educational institutions remained open, police said.
No untoward incident was reported from any part of the state as security forces maintained a strict vigil, mainly in areas bordering Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh, a senior police official said.
However, government buses did not ply in some areas of the State’s southern region including Koraput, Malkangiri, Rayagada and Gajapati as a precautionary safety measure, sources said.
The bandh called by the Naxals in five States also drew little response in Malkangiri district, bordering Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, though vehicular traffic remained comparatively thin in some pockets, they said.
Similarly, it had little impact in Sundargarh district bordering Jharkhand as vehicular movement, business and commercial activities remained normal, they said, adding life was unaffected in the steel city of Rourkela too.
As part of efforts to prevent any untoward incident during the bandh period, security was tightened and patrolling intensified in Maoist-affected areas including Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagda, Gajapati, Kandhamal and Sundargarh, they added.
