The 12 -hour shutdown called by the Congress and other political parties has partially killed normal life in Odisha.
Opposition parties called the bandh on the self-suggestion of a college student after being denied justice in an alleged sexual harassment case. They took the streets from 6 am, staged the blockade and raised slogans against the ruling BJP, demanded justice for the victim.
What is open and what is off
Roads in Bhuwansar, Cuttack and other cities wore a deserted look with very little movement of vehicles. Train services have also been affected at some places in Puri, Jatni and Bhadrak stations. Schools, markets and commercial establishments remained closed. Essential services, such as ambulances, medical facilities, medicines and milk parlors are exempted from the scope of the shutdown. Odisha’s Petroleum Dealers Association has closed all its fuel outlets from 6 am to 6 pm.
Measures by Odisha Government
The state government has tightened security in Odisha in view of Bandar. The Home Department has ordered all district collectors and SPs to be on high alert and warned them against violence during a 12 -hour bandh. State government employees have been instructed to come to their offices ahead of time.
An official said that the police have taken extensive security measures to ensure public orders in major cities.
Bhubaneswar-Katak Police Commissioner S Dev Dutta Singh said that high-resolution AI-competent drones and cameras have been installed in major points, markets and government buildings. “The situation is being closely monitored through the central command setup,” the official said.
What do the leaders of opposition parties say
Leaders of Congress, CPI, CPI (M), CPIM (ML), Forward Block, RJD, SP and NCP hit the streets, holding their party flags to implement the bandh. “We are asking people to support the bandh because there is no security for women in Odisha as the BJP formed a government in the state. Every day 15 women and girls are raped in the state, and the government has failed to investigate such incidents every day,” PTI Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Ram Chandra Kadam accused.
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Charan Das, president of OPCC, said, “The capital of Bhubaneswar is being seen peacefully across the state, and is requested to cooperate with the public,”
Association president Zasanki Shekhar Sahu said, “We are sorry for inconvenience.”
– With input from PTI
(Tagstotransmit) Congress (T) Odisha
