Odisha ACF’s Death: Citizen Forum Gives 6-Hour Bandh Call Over ‘Shoddy’ Probe

Balasore: Demanding immediate arrest of the accused in the death of Paralakhemundi Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) Soumya Ranjan Mohapatra, the Nagarika Manch resorted to a six-hour bandh at Khaira town in Odisha’s Balasore district from 6 am on Thursday.

Extending their unstinting support to the Manch, a number of civil societies also took part in the bandh.

The agitators picketed at several places in the town disrupting vehicular traffic. Besides, all business establishments and government and non-government offices also remained closed.

Notably, the Nagarika Manch, 20 other organisations and traders’ bodies had a meeting at Durga Mandap in the town on September 7 and decided to give the bandh call.

Expressing discontent over the shoddy probe, they said the Crime Branch is yet to make any headway and the state government has not taken any action against the Paralakhemundi DFO, the ACF’s wife Bidyabharati and cook Manmath Kumbha even two months after his death.

If the state government fails to take prompt action, they will intensify their agitation in the coming days, they added.