India - Martyrs’ week observed by Maoists paralyses normal life in Bastar

The ongoing observance of their martyrs’ week by the outlawed Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) paralysed normal life on Tuesday in Bastar district in Chhattisgarh with transport and business activities coming to standstill, officials said. However, no report of violence was reported from any part of the sprawling Bastar district as the martyrs week entered the third day on Tuesday. Like previous years, Maoists are observing martyrs’ week from July 28 to August 3 and have asked people to organise condolence meetings in every village to pay homage to the rebels killed by security forces.
The terror of the Maoists’ fiat is visible in the area as fearing persecution by rebels, operators of buses – the chief mode of transport in Bastar – are keeping off the roads. The railway, too, has suspended operation of the single passenger train (Waltair-Kirandul Passenger) line. Operation of goods train has also been suspended during the night on this section. Impact of the Maoists’ influence was palpable mostly in inner parts of Bastar divisions as weekly markets were not organised, affecting the life of the common man who depended on daily earnings. For the last two decades, the Maoists are running a parallel administration in Bastar, though the state administration denies it.