12-Hour Bandh Over Permanent HC Bench Cripples Normal Life In Mayurbhanj

Baripada: Normal life was crippled in Mayurbhanj district on Saturday due to a 12-hour bandh observed by Jharkhand Mukti Morcha seeking fulfillment of its three-point charter of demands including establishment of a permanent High Court bench at Baripada.

Most shops, business establishments, offices and educational institutions remained closed while vehicular movement came to a grinding halt as the bandh supporters staged blockades on NH-18 and NH-49.

“It is quite unfortunate that the state government is yet to set up a permanent HC bench in south and western Odisha despite the longstanding demands of the residents for the same. Besides setting up of a permanent HC bench at Baripada, the state government should take immediate steps for development of railway service in the district, failing which the agitation will be intensified in the days to come”, an agitator said.