Balangir: The demand for the establishment of a permanent bench of Orissa High court in Balangir has intensified as the District Bar Association and Joint Action Committee called a bandh here from today till December 30.
The lawyers and members of the committee have also decided to resort on picketing and closure of all offices, educational institutions and banks in the district during the period.
Vehicular traffic on the roads came to a grinding halt in the town due to the bandh. Commuters had a narrowing time reaching their destinations as the protestors resorted to picketing and road blockade in major places in the district.
The protestors also staged a Rail Roko at the Balangir railway station, disrupting train services.
Notably, the Joint Action Committee and the District Bar Association had called to observe ‘Balangir Mahabandh’ by shutting down the Collector’s office and Tehsil offices in the district since December 3 to press their demand.
The agitation has received support from around 300 organisations in the district.The protestors comprise of lawyers, residents, social activists, members of district bar association etc.
The agitators reiterated that the State government and the Centre take immediate steps on their long-standing demand, failing which they warned of intensifying their movement in the coming days.
Ms Kalinga