Baripada: Normal life came to a standstill in Mayurbhanj district on Monday owing to a 12-hour bandh jointly observed by Jharkhand Dishom Party and Advasi Sengel Abhiyan to press for their four-point charter of demands including second official language status to Santali.
Almost all shops, commercial establishments, educational institutions remained closed in response to the strike.
Vehicular movement was also affected in most parts of the district as the agitators blocked several major road junctions and staged demonstrations at different places.
“Proactive steps should be taken by the state government to recognize Santali as the second official language as the language is widely spoken in the tribal-populated areas of the state”, one of the protestors said.
