Bhubaneswar: Life was thrown out of gear in 14 districts of Odisha on Wednesday with western Odisha wing of Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) giving a dawn-to-dusk bandh call in the region to protest against the anti-Hindu policy of the state government.
Apart from the riot-hit Sambalpur, the bandh is being in observed in Bargarh, Deogarh, Jharsuguda, Sundargarh, Balangir, Kalahandi, Sonepur, Boudh, Nuapada, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Malkangiri and Rayagada districts.
These districts wore a deserted with vehicles off the roads as VHP members staged road blockade at various places. They also resorted to picketing. Shops and business establishments too downed shutters.
Emergency services like ambulances and Fire Brigade vehicles have been exempted from the purview of the bandh being supported by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Bajrang Dal.
On the other hand, situation is gradually limping back to normalcy in Sambalpur town, where curfew is still continuing along with suspension of internet.
While curfew timings have been relaxed in the town from 7 am to 6 pm for the convenience of public, the district administration has decided to continue with the internet shutdown by another 24 hours, till 10 am on Thursday, to curb circulation of inflammatory messages and prevent misuse of social media.
However, the services will resume in Kuchinda, Rairakhol, Naktideula, Jujumara, Bamra and Jamankira, sources said.
Internet services have been suspended since April 13, a day after the districts headquarters town witnessed clash between two groups ahead of Hanuman Jayanti celebrations.
