Bhubaneswar: Life came to a standstill across Odisha as Congress, along with seven other parties, launched a statewide dawn-to-dusk bandh to protest the death of a 20-year-old female student of Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College by self-immolation due to alleged sexual harassment by a professor and subsequent institutional neglect.
Vehicular movement on several National Highways was affected as Opposition party workers created roadblocks. Substantial traffic congestion was seen on the Chennai-Kolkata Highway, with numerous vehicles stranded.
Vehicular movement in the state capital was severely disrupted as Congress workers blocked NH-16 near Vani Vihar, exacerbating traffic issues. Protesters were also seen burning tyres on Acharya Vihar Road and urging people to cooperate at Master Canteen Square. Roadblocks were also put up at Khandagiri, Jayadev Vihar, and CRP Square.
Commuters were also left stranded in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack with bus services suspended early in the day. Autos and taxis were also stopped at several points, causing inconvenience. People were seen walking with luggage in search of transport amidst delays and confusion over alternative arrangements. Government-run buses operated sporadically but mostly stayed off the roads. Ama Bus service also came to a halt.
Train services were partially hit as the agitators staged rail roko at several railway stations in the state. Railway police were seen removing the agitators from the railway tracks in Puri. There were minor scuffles as security forces stopped Congress workers as they attempted to storm the railway station in the state capital.
Shops and business establishments downed shutters in various regions.
Petrol pumps also remained closed in Bhubaneswar and several other places in the state as a precautionary measure to ensure safety of staff and customers.
While more than 200 platoons of police were deployed in sensitive areas across Odisha to maintain law and order, security was tightened near Lok Seva Bhawan and other government establishments in Bhubaneswar in anticipation of any untoward incident.
THIS PEOPLE-DRIVEN FIGHT FOR JUSTICE WILL CONTINUE: CONGRESS
“Today Odisha is observing a bandh (shutdown). The Congress party and all allied political parties, including Left parties like CPI, CPM, Forward Bloc, CPI(ML), NCP, RJD, and Samajwadi Party, are jointly participating in the bandh…,” said OPCC president Bhakta Charan Das.
The Congress is demanding the resignation of the state’s Education Minister, the local MLA, and the MP, over their alleged failure to act on the student’s complaint and ensure her safety. It has also sought a judicial probe into the incident and enhanced security measures for women’s safety in the state.
“The bandh is not about politics but about standing with the daughters. This movement is people-driven and will only grow stronger. Every school, college, and university is at risk if we don’t act now,” he said.
Das said that the fight will not stop till the student, who was pushed to the edge by government negligence and systemic failure, gets justice.
Responding to concerns over inconvenience to commuters during the bandh, Das said vehicular movement is being allowed in cases of emergency.
Congress leader Ajay Kumar Lallu said that people from all walks of life—businessmen, unions, petrol pump workers—have extended their support to the bandh. “People are taking to the streets in rage and despair. The girl pleaded for help for over a week, from MLAs, MPs, college authorities to the CM’s office—yet no one responded. This is not suicide; it is institutional murder. Our fight will continue until Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resign,” he said.
CPI(M) leader Suresh Panigrahi called for a strict judicial investigation of the incident. “The bandh is completely successful. There has been a spontaneous response to the bandh call across the state. Now the bandh is being enforced by the people of Odisha…It has gained momentum because the girl has been murdered by the system. The victim girl appealed to the Odisha government, the local MP and MLA, Principal, District Collector, Superintendent of Police, and the Education Minister of state and the Centre, but nothing happened. …We demand a strict judicial investigation of the whole incident, the Education Minister should resign, and some action should be taken against the local MLA and MP,” he said.
