12-hour bandh in Odisha’s Kantabanji over district status demand

Kantabanji: The Zilla Sangharsha Samiti, a local outfit, is today observing a 12-hour dawn-to-dusk bandh in Odisha’s Kantabanji demanding district status for the region.

Educational institutions, offices, shops and business establishments remained closed in view of the bandh call while vehicular movement was affected as members of the outfit staged road blockade at various places.

However, emergency services were excluded from the ambit of the bandh observance.

Around 50 organizations have extended support to the bandh call.

“The distance between Kantabanji and Balangir town is around 80 km. People of the area want the region to be declared as a district. It will aid in the development of the area,” said Bariyam Singh Saluja Chairperson, NAC, Kantabanji.