Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has asked all district Collectors and Superintendents of Police (SPs) to take preventive and precautionary measures to maintain law and order during the proposed statewide bandh by some political parties including the Congress party on July 17 (Thursday).

The Home Department of the state government today sent a letter in this regard to all district Collectors and SPs and Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) of the twin cities of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar.

The Congress party and some other parties including CPI, CPM, SUCI and AIDSO have called for a 12-hour bandh (general strike) across the state on July 17 to protest against self-immolation of a girl student of FM Autonomous College in Balasore district recently.

The agitators will observe the bandh by closing down all schools, colleges, universities, business establishments, markets and Central and state government offices. They may resort to road blockade to disrupt vehicular traffic, said Home Department Special Secretary RK Sharma in his letter to the district Collectors and SPs.

“You are, therefore requested to take all preventive and precautionary measures to maintain law and order and remain alert against any untoward incident during the strike,” he added.

The Home Department has asked the Collectors and SPs to make the necessary arrangements for the smooth functioning of Central government and state government offices and other establishments on July 17.