Normal life was disrupted in most parts of Jharkhand on Friday due to a Maoist-sponsored shutdown call.
In state capital Ranchi, daily commuters were left stranded, as trains and buses did not ply.
“We are facing trouble as no buses are allowed to ply today and we have parked our bus at the depot. Even the passengers are facing lot of problems. We are sitting here in the depot and the passengers are stranded. Therefore, we have parked our bus here,” said Parvez Alam, a bus driver.
Major market areas in the city remained closed.
Policemen were seen patrolling in public places, including the market area and at bus stands, etc.
Inspector General of Police (Special Branch) S N Pradhan, said: “We were already anticipating the shutdown. We have been focusing on Saranda region, to avert any violence. However, since it is a state-shutdown, we have sounded an alert.”
Despite having government sponsored poverty alleviation and employment generation schemes in the tribals-dominated district, which is rich in natural resources and booming with both mini and mega industries, its poverty-ridden tribal minor and major girls are being sold out as commodities in the virtually slave market for the major cities.
The Maoist presence has also deterred the development works and educational processes for the local tribals in the area to a large extent.
The guerrilla war, waged mostly from the forests of central and eastern India now poses the biggest internal security challenge, say analysts. (ANI)