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Youth Congress supporters stage a protest over Balasore student's death by self-immolation, in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday. (ANI Photo)
A 12-hour bandh called by the Congress and other political parties have partially hit the normal life in Odisha.
The opposition parties called the bandh over the self-immolation of a college student after being denied justice in an alleged sexual harassment case. They took to the streets since 6 in the morning, staged blockades and raised slogans against the ruling BJP dispensation, demanding justice for the victim.
What’s open and what’s closed
The roads in Bhubanswar, Cuttack and other cities wore a deserted look with a very less movement of vehicles. Train services too have been affected in some places in Puri, Jatni, and Bhadrak stations. Schools, markets and business establishments remained closed. Essential services, such as the movement of ambulances, medical facilities, medicine stores and milk parlours, have been exempted from the purview of the bandh. Odisha’s Petroleum Dealers’ Association has closed all its fuel outlets from 6 am to 6 pm.
Measures by Odisha government
The state government has tightened security across Odisha in view of the bandh. The home department has ordered all district collectors and SPs to stay on high alert and cautioned them against violence during the 12-hour bandh. The state government employees have been directed to come to their offices before time.
The police have made extensive security measures to ensure public order in major cities, an officer said.
High-resolution AI-enabled drones and cameras have been installed at key points, markets, and government buildings to keep an eye on the situation, Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Police Commissioner S Dev Datta Singh said. “The situation is being closely monitored through a central command setup,” the officer added.
What Opposition parties leaders say
The leaders from Congress, CPI, CPI(M), CPIM (ML), Forward Bloc, RJD, SP and NCP hit the streets, holding their party flags to enforce the bandh. “We have been telling people to support the bandh as there is no safety for women in Odisha since the BJP formed the government in the state. As many as 15 women and girls are raped every day in the state, and the government has completely failed to check such incidents,” PTI quoted Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Rama Chandra Kadam alleged.
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“The bandh is being observed peacefully across the state, including the capital city of Bhubaneswar, and the public is requested to cooperate,” OPCC president Bhakta Charan Das said, adding that picketings are underway on railway stations and national highways.
“We are sorry for the inconvenience,” said Sasanka Shekhar Sahu, the president of the association.
— with inputs from PTI
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