Bandh affects normal life in Odisha’s Nabarangpur

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Nabarangpur, Jun 28:

The dawn-to-dusk bandh called by the Congress to protest against the arrest of former Nabarangpur MP Pradip Majhi and 17 others threw life out of gear in Odisha’s Nabarangpur.

According to reports, normal life was affected in several parts of Nabarangpur due to the bandh called by the state unit Congress. Commercial establishments, educational institutions and retailers downed their shutters following the 12-hour bandh call.

The Congress workers burnt tyres at several places owing to which vehicular movement was affected.

Reports said, the agitators pelted eggs at the office-cum-residence of District Collector. Two Congress workers were detained in connection with the incident.

On the other hand, the Congress activists also had a scuffle with policemen during the bandh call.

Three platoons of police personnel were deployed at Nabaranpur, Raighar and other areas. However, deployment was increased at several parts to avoid any untoward incident.

Yesterday, Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee president Prasad Harichandan and senior Congress leader Bhakta Charan Das met former MP Pradip Majhi and others in the Umerkote Sub Jail.

Earlier on Saturday, Pradip Majhi along with his supporters was arrested after a demonstration in front of the forest office turned violent. The demonstrators allegedly ransacked the Raighar forest range office and beat up forest ranger.  The activists were demanding immediate allotment of forest land patta to tribals and conduct of a fresh survey to identify eligible BPL beneficiaries of ration cards under National Food Security Act (NFSA).

Meanwhile, the indefinite hunger strike called by Majhi and his supporters entered the third day today.