Fear of Maoists keeps shops in western Odisha town shut

Odisha Sun Times Bureau

Khaprakhol, July 31:

Shops in Harishankar area of Odisha’s Balangir district remained closed on Wednesday  under the effect of Martyrs’ Week being observed by Maoists from July 28 to August 3.

Surprisingly, the police outpost at Harishankar too remained closed.

Maoists have again become active in the remote border areas of Balangir and Nuapada districts.

But propaganda by Maoists about observance of Martyrs’ Week has hardly had any effect in Lathore and Khaprakhol areas of Balangir district, once known to be the hot bed of Maosit activities.

Earlier, Maoists had killed four persons in Khaprakhol area while police had killed two Maoists after which Maoist activities had come to a virtual halt in the area in the last few months.