The banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) said that Thursday will see the Bandh being enforced in six states Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and Orissa, in Gadchiroli, Gondia and Chandrapur districts of Maharashtra and Balaghat district in Madhya Pradesh.
A statement released by the Maoists called for a "shutdown
of all rail and road traffic, government and private offices, industries, educational institutions and business establishments." Essential services like hospitals and other services are exempted from the bandh call.
The Maoists demanded "an immediate end to massacres by the forces in Kashmir, a complete withdrawal of all military and paramilitary forces, a repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, a plebiscite for Kashmiris and the release of all political prisoners."
