Bhubaneswar: While MG Marg in Bhubaneswar turned into a battleground ground as BJD leaders and workers marched to Lok Seva Bhawan on Wednesday, Odisha will witness a 12-hour statewide bandh led by Congress on Thursday to protest against the death of a 20-year-old student of Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College after a self-immolation bid, allegedly due to sexual harassment and institutional neglect.
Eight opposition parties, including CPI (M), Samajwadi Party, and the NCP, are supporting the bandh while calling for “justice and accountability” and a judicial probe into the incident.
The Congress has described the bandh as a ‘peaceful shutdown’ aimed at drawing attention to the circumstances surrounding the student’s death. Schools, colleges, shops, markets, and transport services will remain closed between 6 am and 6 pm.
The agitators are likely to stage road blockades at prominent places across the state, affecting vehicular movement. They may also resort to picketing outside government offices and stage rail roko at important railway stations across Odisha.
Approximately 3,000 filling stations, along with three depots, will also remain shut for 10 hours, till 4 pm.
However, healthcare services will be exempted from the Bandh, ensuring that medical facilities, pharmacies, and ambulance services function as usual.
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Addressing the media, Twin City Commissioner of Police (CP) S Dev Datta Singh said robust law-and-order arrangements have been made to ensure peace and prevent any untoward incident during the Odisha Bandh on July 17.
The briefing came after the BJD accused police of ‘high-handed’ tactics to crush its march to Lok Seva Bhawan earlier in the day. “We respect the democratic right to protest, but public safety is our utmost priority,” he said, urging all parties to exercise restraint.
The CP also denied use of rubber bullets during the BJD protest in Bhubaneswar. “We used only water cannons, five rounds of tear gas, and limited, proportionate force. Rubber bullets were not used,” he clarified.
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He further stated that seven police personnel were injured in a scuffle which ensued as protesters breached the security barricades and tried to storm Lok Seva Bhawan. “They have been admitted to Capital Hospital,” he said.
Singh also clarified that no stones were hurled during the demonstration. AI-enabled surveillance cameras and drones were deployed to monitor the crowd and ensure accountability, he added.
Over 200 BJD workers were taken into preventive custody and let off later in the day, and several leaders, including Pranab Prakash Das and Pritiranjan Gharai, sustained injuries during the clash.
Also Read: Pranab Das & Pritiranjan Injured During Protest In Bhubaneswar Over FM College Tragedy
