Bhubaneswar: In response to the alleged injustice meted out to the victim of the Balanga case, a 6-hour shutdown called by the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in Puri district is currently underway.
The shutdown, which began at 6 am and will continue until noon, has seen significant participation from BJD workers, who have been picketing at various intersections across the town.
According to reports, the BJD workers have been peacefully protesting, demanding justice for the victim. Party workers and supporters, led by former MLA Rudra Pratap Maharthi, staged a protest in Pipili, blocking the Bhubaneswar-Puri National Highway and markets. The protesters, who included Pipili Municipal Chairman Seikh Babu, Zilla Parishad member Dharanidhar Sahu, and former Zilla Parishad member Debashish Nanda, among others, set tires ablaze and blocked key intersections, including the Pipili Toll Plaza Square, Uttara Square, Mangalpur market, and Satasankha market.
The shutdown has had a significant impact on daily life in Puri, with shops, markets, offices, and vehicular traffic coming to a standstill. The effect of the shutdown is even evident, with shops, markets, offices, and vehicles remaining closed on Bada Danda Road.
The BJD has alleged that the victim’s family was coerced into changing their statement under pressure from the ruling party, similar to the FM College case in Balasore.
The protests are a continuation of the party’s demands for justice for the victim, who had set herself ablaze on July 19 and later succumbed to her injuries on August 2 at AIIMS Delhi.
The party workers also expressed discontentment over the failure of the Odisha Police in handling such cases tactfully.
