Bhubaneswar: The 12-hour ‘Odisha Bandh’ called by Naba Nirman Krushak Sangathan (NNKS) today had mild effect in the capital city Bhubaneswar, while life crippled in other parts of the state.
Defying the State Government’s appeal to desist from bandh observation yesterday in view of the upcoming High School Certificate (HSC) examination, hundreds of members of NNKS marched on separate rallies from Kalpana, Master Canteen and Sikharchandi Chhak starting from morning 6 am.
Over 70 activists of the farmers’ body were taken into preventive custody by the Twin City Commissionerate Police to restore normalcy.
Later, a group of protesting farmers tried to block Patia-Nandankanan road in the capital city Bhubaneswar by burning tyres in support of the bandh.
“We are taking all steps to restore normalcy in the Twin City and resorting to preventive arrests. At least 30 platoons of police forces have been deployed in Bhubaneswar and 15 platoons pressed into action in Cuttack,” said Satyajit Mohanty, Twin City Police Commissioner.
The effect of the bandh remains to be maximum in Bhadrak, Jagatsinghpur and Berhampur. While NNKS activists blocked NH-16 in Bhadrak causing hundreds of vehicles to remain stranded on both sides of the road, Congress workers joined them in staging a blockade at Jagatsinghpur bus stand.
NNKS is demanding that while farmers are demanding for price, prestige and pension the Naveen government is busy in formulating schemes like PEETHA and KALIA.
Kalinga AI