Bandh evokes partial response

By Our Staff Correspondent

BHUBANESWAR, AUG. 11. Normal life was affected in most parts of Orissa today as the State-wide bandh called by the Utkal Sammilani evoked a partial response. No untoward incident was reported from any part of the State and the bandh passed off peacefully.

While Government offices and banks functioned normally, a majority of shops and other business establishments were closed during the day and public transport buses were off roads, causing inconvenience to the general public. Rail traffic was also hit as bandh supporters stopped trains at a few places.

The bandh was called in protest against the Centre's attitude towards the demand for merger of Sareikala and Kharsuan areas of Bihar with Orissa in the wake of the formation of Vananchal State.

According to official sources, as many as 690 bandh supporters, including some Utkal Sammilani office-bearers and Opposition leaders, were arrested at different places and released by evening.

However, the president of Utkal Sammilani, Mr. Harishchandra Baxipatra, claimed that more than 1000 had been arrested and added that the Sammilani would continue its fight for the merger of the two erstwhile princely States with Orissa.

The Opposition parties which supported the bandh included the Congress(I), Janata Dal(S), the Rashtriya Janata Dal, Samajwadi Janata Party, Samajwadi Party, the CPI and CPI(M).

PTI reports:

Those arrested included Janata Dal(S) president, Mr. Ashok Das, the expelled BJD leader, Mr. Bijoy Mohapatra, the CPI(M) State secretary, Mr. Janardan Pati, the CPI(M) leader, Mr. Sivaji Patnaik and the CPI State assistant secretary, Mr. Akhyay Pradhan.

Train services were temporarily disrupted in the morning but long-distance trains started moving after being controlled at different stations. The Puri-Howrah passenger had been rescheduled for onward journey to Howrah from Bhadrak, according to railway sources.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Other States
Previous : Fake certificate gang held
Next     : Judge accused of sexual harassment