12-Hour ‘Mahabandh’ In 11 Odisha Dists Demanding Separate ‘Kosala State’

Bhubaneswar: A 12-hour dawn-to-dusk ‘Mahabandh’ call in 11 districts of Odisha has been given by the Kosala Rajya Mukti Morcha and Kosala Sena on Wednesday, demanding a separate Kosala state.

All trading establishments, educational institutions and government offices are closed in view of the bandh.

In Balangir, Bargarh, Kalahandi, and Sonepur districts, the agitators picketed at different places. They were seen moving from one place to another in vehicles, seeking the support of people to make the bandh successful. The road near Bhawanipatna University has been blocked.

However, emergency services have been kept out of the purview of the bandh.

Bandh opponents in Sambalpur, however, gathered at the railway station to prevent bandh supporters from disrupting train services.

“We want to protect our regional language and culture. Hence we are protesting against those organizations who are trying to change it on the pretext of formation of a new state,” said a resident of Sambalpur protesting at the railway station.

Organisations like the Western Odisha Yuva Manch, Kosala Youth Coordination Committee, Kosala State Coordination Committee, Kosala Sena, Kosala Mukti Bahini and Kosala Rajya Mukti Morcha are mainly leading the movement for a separate Kosala state.