Bhubaneswar, Oct 14 - Shops were closed and vehicles went off the road in Orissa's Mayurbhanj district Wednesday as Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) observed a 24-hour shutdown to protest an attack on its leader Tuesday, police said.

JMM activists marched on the streets and blocked roads at several places in the district, a senior police officer told IANS.

"Schools and college have been closed. Government offices have thin attendance," he said.

Three security men accompanying former MP and JMM Orissa unit president Sudam Marandi were killed when the politician was attacked by suspected Maoist rebels near Bandam village, some 35 km from the district headquarters of Baripada Tuesday. Baripada is about 270 km from here. (IANS)