Bhubaneswar: The petrol dealers’ association has decided to shut down filling stations across Odisha on Thursday in view of the 12-hour statewide bandh call given by Congress 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.
General Secretary of the All-India Petroleum Dealers’ Association, Sanjay Lath, informed that over 3,000 fuel stations and three major depots in Odisha will remain closed from 6 am to 4 pm on July 17. “The decision has been taken as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of staff, property, and customers during the protest,” he said.
He estimated a revenue loss of over Rs 100 crore due to the shutdown.
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.
However, healthcare services will be exempted from the Bandh, ensuring that medical facilities, pharmacies, and ambulance services function as usual.
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The second-year integrated BEd student had set herself on fire on July 12 after being harassed by her HoD Samira Sahu. She passed away on Monday night at AIIMS-Bhubaneswar after battling for life with 90-95% burns for almost 60 hours.
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