12-hour Rourkela Bandh Cripples Life

Rourkela: A 12-hour Rourkela bandh call by Rourkela Bar Association, brought life to a standstill here on Monday.

Demanding establishment of a permanent bench of the Orissa High Court (HC) in Steel City and special district status to Rourkela, the lawyers staged blockades at various places.

Due to the bandh, a large number of vehicles were stranded on both sides of NH-143.

As the bandh call was supported by various political parties, trade unions and business establishments, shops, schools, petrol pumps, banks and insurance offices, have downed their shutters across the city.

Agitators picketed at various places like Panposh, Bisra Square, Chhend Colony Square, Sector 7-17 Square, Rangila Square and Vedvyas by burning tyres. They blocked roads at 11 places of the city, mainly in Bishra Square and Panposh Square.

“We have demanding a permanent bench of Orissa High Court in Rourkela since long. We are also considering the demand of the general people for special district status to Rourkela as it fulfils all the criteria to get the special district status,” said President of Rourkela Bar Association.