The ongoing martyrs’ week of Maoists paralysed normal life in Bastar with transport and business activities coming to a standstill. However, no report of violence has been reported from any part of Bastar even if the ‘Janpituri Saptah’ entered third day on Tuesday.
Notably, like previous years Maoists are observing martyrs’ week from July 28 to August 3 and have asked people to organise condolence meet in every village to pay homage to the rebels killed by security forces. Terror of Maoist fiat is clearly visible in the area as fearing persecution by rebels, operators of buses which is the chief mode of transport in Bastar area are keeping off the road. Railways too have suspended operation of the single passenger train (Waltair-Kirandul Passenger) between Jagdalpur and Kirandul on Kirandul-Kottavalasa line. Operation of goods train too has been suspended during night on this section.
Impact of Maoists influence was palpable mostly in inner parts of Bastar divisions as neither weekly haats were organised nor any activities were seen in Mandis affecting the life of common man who depended on daily earnings. People felt even scarcity of vegetables as transportation was virtually nil. Notably, for the last two decades Maoist organisation is running a parallel administration in Bastar even if the State administration denied it officially. Growing number of violent incidents, explosions and deaths of hundreds of innocents are ample proof that red rebels rule the roost in internal parts of Bastar and people are forced to obey their diktats given the fact that despite its best efforts, the State Government is not able to reach them.