Thirty people from villages under Chandiposh gram panchayat were arrested Aug 29. Branding them Maoists, police said the villagers were involved in several crimes, including the murder of a police officer in the region July 16.

Police said all of the accused have confessed to the crimes. The Maoists, however, are observing a 24 hour strike Thursday in the region and are demanding their release, saying they are innocent.

The villagers have blocked national highway 23 since Tuesday.

Maoists are active in more than half of the state's 30 districts.