Bargarh: Normal life was disrupted in Odisha’s Bargarh town on Tuesday due to a dawn-to-dusk bandh demanding justice for a woman, who was allegedly abducted and later rescued in critical condition from a forest.
During the 12-hour shutdown, called by Bargarh Sachetan Nagarika Mancha, the protesters took to the streets and staged demonstrations at major junctions affecting vehicular movement.
While shops and business establishments remained closed, emergency services were kept out of the purview of the bandh.
Hundreds of vehicles remain stranded on the Bargarh-Raipur national highway, sources informed.
Accusing police of failing to apprehend the main culprits even after over eight days have passed since the crime was reported, the members of the forum observed the bandh.
Notably, the woman reportedly went missing after she had went out to watch Dhanu Jatra on January 12 evening. Her family filed a complaint with the police stating that the woman had gone to the festival but never returned back. The woman’s family subsequently received a call from her phone and an unknown caller informed that she was lying in the forest motionless.
The family could not locate her in the forest during their search, reportedly. After two days, some locals spotted her in the jungle and informed the family on Jan 14. The victim had sustained severe injuries on her head and several other parts of her body. However, as per the reports of the superintendent of Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR) Prof. Lalmohan Nayak, it was confirmed that the woman did not reflect sexual assault.
Meanwhile, the police nabbed three persons in connection with the incident while the main accused is yet to be apprehended.
