KalingaTV News Network
Baripada: Life came to a standstill across Mayurbhanj district on Monday following a 6-hour bandh call given by Kudumi Sena over demand of Scheduled Tribe status for the Kudumi Community.
Shops, other business establishments, educational institutions including schools and colleges, government and private offices along with courts remained closed during the bandh. Train and bus services were badly affected due to the protest as activists squatted on railway tracks and roads at several key locations.
While the bandh was observed in an overall peaceful manner, Sena’s members staged a blockade on NH-16 by burning tyres bringing down the traffic flow to a grinding halt in the morning. Hundreds of vehicles remained stranded on both the sides of the highway for hours due to the blockade.
The highest impact of bandh was felt in places like Udala, Karanjia and Rairangpur sub divisions.
In six neighbouring districts of Mayurbhanj namely Keonjhar, Sundergarh, Jajpur where Kudumi community members are found also witnessed rounds of protests and demonstrations today.
While the Constitution presently covers the community under the Backward Class category, the Kudumis have, for many decades, claimed tribal status.
Ms Kalinga AI