Bhubaneswar: Normawas hit in Kantabanji in Odisha’s Bolangir district and Bhuban area in Dhenkanal district due to a dawn-to-dusk bandh to press for the demand for a separate state for the region. The bandh call has been given by Kantabanji Zilla Sangharsha Samiti, while the BJP district unit has called the 12-hour bandh in Bhuban in support of its demand for solving the drinking water problem, shortage of doctors and teachers, farmers’ issues and bad road conditions in the area.
The bandh call received a strong response from the people in Turekela, Bongomunda, Muribahal, Belapada, and Khaprakhol blocks and Kantabanji NAC.
Since early morning, the bandh supporters were seen picketing at various important locations. All government and private educational institutions and offices, markets, and business establishments remained shut today. Vehicular movement was also affected and hundreds of vehicles were seen parked on both sides of various roads. They also staged a road blockade, bringing vehicular movement to a grinding halt.
The bandh supporters, however, left essential services like ambulance service out of the bandh’s purview.
Kantabanji Zilla Sangharsha Samiti had observed several bandhs in support of their demand on November 24 last year, March 25, and July 18 this year.
