Bhubaneswar, Sep 10 - A blockade of a national highway in Orissa's mineral rich Sundergarh district by villagers demanding the release of 30 people arrested as suspected Maoists was called off Thursday evening after the authorities assured that the agitators' demand will be looked into, police said.

The national highway number 23 was blocked Tuesday by hundreds of people, mostly tribals, demanding the release of 30 residents arrested Aug 29.

'The agitators have lifted the blockade after assurance that we will look into their demand,' a senior district administrative official said.

The villagers blocked the highway near Chandiposh village, 575 km from here.

The blockade had paralysed traffic along the highway and had hit the transportation of minerals.