Bharat Bandh Brings Life To Standstill In Parts Of Odisha, BPUT Postpones Exam

Bhubaneswar: Life came to a standstill in various parts of Odisha as Bharat Bandh called by some groups on social media against caste-based reservation on Tuesday received widespread support.

Vehicular movement was affected in several places while shops and other commercial establishments remained shut.

The Biju Patnaik University of Technology (BPUT) has postponed its semester examination, apprehending untoward incident.

The university had earlier postponed the examination on April 2 due to Bharat Bandh called by several Dalit organisations protesting against the Supreme Court ruling diluting certain provisions of the Schedued Castes and Scheduled tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

In Balangir, members of Ekata Sangathan and various other groups staged road blockades by burning tyres and picketed at different places in response to the bandh. The protestors demanded reforms in reservation policy.

The bandh turned violent in Nuapada district after a clash broke out between two groups during a strike. The situation, however, was brought under control by police personnel.

Meanwhile, lawyers under the banner of Anandpur Bar Association launched a cease-work agitation in response to the strike in Anandpur of Keonjhar district. Most shops, educational institutions and offices downed shutters during the strike.

In Bhubaneswar, a group of Rudra Narayan Sena, a youth outfit, were taken into preventive custody ahead of their strike at CRP Square.

Similar protests were reported from Jeypore in Koraput district, Baripada in Mayurbhanj district, Kamakhyanagar in Dhenkanal districts and several parts of Boudh district.