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Kantabanji: Protestors observed 12-hour bandh demanding district status to Kantabanji, which comes under Balangir district in Odisha.
The dawn-to-dusk bandh called by Kantabanji Zilla Sangharsh Samiti hit normal life as schools, colleges, business establishments and vehicular movement were closed in the town today.
Amid rain, the protestors hit the streets and raised slogans to put pressure on the government to consider granting district status to Kantabanji.
More than 20 organisations have joined their hands in support of the bandh call. A memorandum will be handed over to Kantabanji Tahasildar addressed to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik pressing their demand for district status to Kantabanji.
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"All the institutions and societies of the town supported the bandh call. Except emergency services, the vehicles will be off the road and all business establishments, and educational institutions will remain shut from 6 am to 6 pm during the bandh. A procession will be carried out at 11 am to Tehsil office where we will press our demand through a memorandum addressed to the CM," Brajsyam Guru, Executive President of Kantabanji Zilla Sangharsh Samiti.
"The movement is very old. The government and elected representatives have been exploiting us since a long time. Kantabanji is entitled to receive sub-division status in 90s, but yet to get it. Now, we qualify to get district status. If the small towns like Nuapada and Padamapur can qualify for separate districthood, why not Kantabanji, which is situated in the centre of Balangir, which is 80 km away, it is 70 km from Nuapada, nearly 80 km from Bhawanipatna. Further, Kantabanji is Maoist-dominated place with having maximum population of tribals. The CM Naveen Patnaik has launched many welfare programmes, but the administration is yet to reach remote areas of Kantabanji till the date. Therefore, Kantabanji is eligible to become a separate district from all perspectives," said Seshdev Patel, President of Kantabanji Zilla Sangharsh Samiti.