24-Hour Bandh For HC Bench Cripples Life In Balangir

Balangir: Demanding establishment of a permanent bench of Orissa High Court, the Balangir Lawyers’ Association and Central Action Committee (CAC) observed 24-hour bandh in Balangir on Monday.

Several political parties, social organisations and people of Balangir district have also been supporting the bandh.

Following blockades and picketing by the members, vehicular movement remained disrupted. Government and private offices, educational institutions, markets, and  business establishments also downed shutters owing to the bandh.

The agitators have been picketing since morning and train services have also affected due to Rail Roko agitation.

Even sweepers are supporting the strike and did not turn up for work this morning.

However, emergency services like health and ambulance service have been kept out of the purview of the bandh.

“Eight platoons of police forces are being deployed in three shifts to maintain law and order during the bandh,” said Balangir SDPO Khira Sagar Nayak.

Notably, 48-hour ‘Maha Bandh’ on November 29 and 30  had affected normal life in Sambalpur, Deogarh, Jharsuguda, Sonepur and Sundargarh districts.

The Central Action Committee (CAC) of All Western Odisha Bar Association (AWOBA) had called for the bandh, demanding a permanent High Court bench in western Odisha.