Traders’ Body Observes 12-hour Bandh Demanding Steps For Safety

 Athmallik: The traders’ association in Athamallik town of Angul district observed a 12-hour bandh on Friday to protest the looting of a local businessman, at gunpoint, by motorcycle-borne miscreants on Thursday.

Most shops, business establishments as well as educational institutions remained shut while vehicles stayed off the roads at different places in the locality.

The agitators organised meetings, staged demonstrations and burnt tyres on major roads setting off blockades.  They raised slogans demanding immediate nabbing of the accused and appropriate steps by the district administration to ensure 24-hour police patrolling in Athamallik market area.

The protestors warned that the agitation would be intensified in the days to come, if their demands were not fulfilled at the earliest.

The businessman, Mahesh Agrawal, was about to open his cement shop in the morning when the incident took place.