Bhubaneswar, June 25: Maoists torched kendu leaf godowns and damaged a mobile tower as a 24-hour strike called by them today to protest against Operation Green Hunt hit life in parts of Balangir, Nuapada and Bargarh districts in Odisha.

Sources said the rebels today set fire to a huge kendu leaf stack in Khaprakhol block of Balangir district where they have been trying hard to set up a base for sometime now. The Maoists also attacked a mobile tower at Ghunsar, damaging the generator set attached to it.

While public transport kept off the road in the interior areas of the three strike-hit districts, the rebels blocked major roads by felling trees. The movement of security forces was also affected in these areas because of incessant rainfall. Balangir superintendent of police R. Prakash said heavy shower was hampering combing operation by the police and paramilitary forces.

Road transport between Balangir and Nuapada and Balangir and Bargarh was affected at several places with the rebels felling trees and placing huge boulders on major roads. Both government and private buses kept off the road fearing attacks in these three districts where the strike had been called by the Mahasamund division of the CPI (Maoist).

Senior police officers said that the strike was a show of strength by the rebels in these three western Odisha districts where they have made deep forays in the last one and a half years.

“Their first target was Nuapada where they are now well entrenched, having set up a major base in the Sunabeda Wildlife Sanctuary. Now, they are trying to turn Balangir and Bargarh into their bastions,” said an officer.

If the rebels manage to take control of these districts, their sway over almost entire western Odisha would be complete.

“Sundergarh, Sambalpur and Deogarh are already under their control and they have even succeeded in getting a foothold in Boudh and Angul. If Balangir, Bargarh and Nuapada come under their control, they will have an unchallenged reign in Odisha’s western districts,” the officer added.

Intelligence inputs suggest that the Maoists have also been trying to get a toehold in Kalahandi district neighbouring Balangir. This is being seen as danger sign as an aluminium refinery is located in the district close to the Niyamgiri hills. The refinery is, however, being opposed by the local tribals who, police suspect, are being backed by the rebels.