A policeman monitors the movement of vehicles on NH-33. Picture by Srinivas

Jamshedpur, July 31: The CPI(Maoist) sponsored two-day Jharkhand bandh failed to evoke any response in the Singhbhum region on its first day today.

The bandh was also ineffective in Naxalite-dominated Ghatshila in East Singhbhum and Chandil in the adjoining Seraikela-Kharsawan district.

Life in the twin districts of Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharsawan remained undisturbed. Buses were operational and for schools, colleges and commercial establishments in Ghatshila, Chandil, Chowka and Patamda it was business as usual.

The bandh was called as a mark of protest against the rising prices of essential commodities and petroleum products. Intelligence reports suggested that it failed to have any impact due to internal bickering within rebel outfits operating in the region.

Rebel leader Anupji of the East Singhbhum Zonal Committee, which controls the bordering Mayurbhanj district in Orissa, East Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharsawan district, had given the bandh call.

But intelligence sources quoted Animeshji, the spokesman of Eastern Regional Bureau, to have declared that they were not calling a bandh.

Sources claimed that cracks have developed in East Singhbhum Zonal Committee, and a dispute has cropped up due to differences among a section of rebel leaders on whether Congress should be allowed to enter Jharkhand.

The rebel leader, Anupji, had even declared that senior Congress leaders, including Sonia Gandhi, Manmohan Singh, P. Chidambaram and party’s Jharkhand state committee president Pradeep Balmuchu will be facing dire consequences for their anti-Maoist stand.

But a section of outlawed CPI-Maoists was not in the favour of going against Congress leaders.