Staff Reporter

BHUBANESWAR: Normal life was affected in the naxalite-affected districts of Orissa on Wednesday as public transport buses remained off the road in view of the Chaka Jaam agitation call given by the Communist Party of India (Maoist).

Despite the police intensifying the combing operation in the affected region, the extremists were successful in blocking the roads at several locations in the districts of Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri affecting vehicle movement. Shops and business establishments also remained closed in many areas in these southern Orissa districts.

Heavy security arrangements were also made in the districts of Sundargarh and Sambalpur in western Orissa to prevent any untoward incident.

The party had earlier given a call for a countrywide road-block agitation on June 14 and 15 in protest against the ban order and `suppression' of the people's genuine voices by the police.