Maoists damage roads in Chhattisgarh

Bijapur, July 16 (ANI): Maoist rebels felled trees and dug up roads in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur District on Thursday to protest against the alleged fake encounter killing of their leader, Cherukuri Rajkumar, alias Azad.

The ultras left a red banner condemning the killing of Azad by the security forces.

Road traffic was affected in the region as the main highway through the Bijapur was dug up at many places.

Because of the obstruction, locals had to face many difficulties in commuting in the area.tudents had to walk many kilometers to reach their schools.

"I am going on foot to my institute. It is about 35 kilometers away from here but I will have to go on foot," said Kamal, a student.

The rebels on July 13 called for a 48-hour shutdown in Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Orissa.

Azad was killed in the Jogapur forest area of Andhra Pradesh's Adilabad District, while attempting to cross into Maharashtra.

Maoist attacks have increased this year, especially after the Government launched a coordinated security offensive involving tens of thousands of police trying to flush out the rebels from their jungle hideouts in central and eastern India. (ANI)