Maoists block road in Kanker ahead of PM Narendra Modi's visit to Chhattisgarh

RAIPUR: A day ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Chhattisgarh's Bastar region, Maoists today blocked a main road in insurgency-hit Kanker district by felling trees and put up banners, opposing the visit.

According to police, rebels have called for boycott of Modi's visit to the state, specially to Dantewada district tomorrow and appealed villagers to observe two-day 'Dandakaranya Bandh' on May 8-9.

"Maoists had blocked Bhanupratappur-Pakahanjore road by felling trees at Konde village under Badgaon police station limits today," a senior police official, told PTI.

Security forces were rushed to the spot after getting the information, he said.

Bomb disposal squad has also been pressed into action to check if the naxals planted an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) at the spot, the officer said, adding, soon vehicular movement on the route will be restored.

Central security agencies have been informed about it while the police have been put on alert in the region, he added.

In the banners displayed around the trees, carrying several anti-national messages and content, naxals appealed to the people of Bastar to make their two-day Bandh call, a success by opposing the visit.

The rebels, in the banners, also opposed the proposed ultra mega steel plant at Dilimili village in Dantewada, for which an MoU will be signed during Modi's visit tomorrow.

The prime minister during his day-long visit to Chhattisgarh will attend a slew of programmes in Dantewada and Raipur districts.