Maoists call for shutdown in Jharkhand to protest Kishenji's killing

Latehar, Nov 29 (ANI): In an attempt to resurrect the image of the recently killed top Maoist leader Koteswar Rao alias Kishenji, the outlawed rebels on Tuesday called for a day's shutdown Jharkhand, affecting locals and daily wage labourers.

Maoist rebels believe that Kishenji was murdered in a fake encounter. However, the security personnel said that they have asked him to surrender during their battle but he denied and backfired on them.

Hence, during the gun-battle, Kishenji and some of his accomplices were killed on November 24.

Following the Maoists order, all shops, schools, colleges and government offices are closed and public transport remained off the roads in a Maoist stronghold District of Latehar.

Irked workers of coal mines, running in the region, complained that because of the unfortunate shutdown, they are not able to earn money and it is difficult for them to run their families.

"It has a very bad impact as they are contractors who do not face problem due to this shutdown because they have sufficient food at their home by which they can live happily but it would be difficult for the workers or labourers as they work on the contractual basis, if they will work then only they would get money, if would not work, they would not get money," said Ashok Singh, worker of a coal mine.

According to local media reports, Maoist rebels would mourn for a week in Latehar over the death of their leader Kishenji and also announced two days country shutdown on December 4 and 5.

Some labourers who are also facing the brunt of shutdown said that their daily income is getting affected, as their work areas remained closed following the orders of Maoist rebels.

"My wages for one day is Rs. 150 which gets affected because of shutdown," said Ramesh Bhuiya, a labourer.

Despite strong measures initiated by the central government to crush the ultras, the Maoist insurgency has gripped nearly a third of the country, spreading into the interiors of 20 of India's 28 states.

For the past few years, the rebels have stepped up their attacks against the government, targeting and damaging democratic and civil institutions of the nation, such as schools, medical centres and government property.

Maoists have also significantly increased their presence in tribal and rural regions in affected states like Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal and Orissa. (ANI)