Kamakhyanagar: A 12-hour dawn to dusk bandh called by the BJP Yuva Morcha, threw normal life out of gear in Bhuban town under this block in Dhenkanal district Friday.
The protestors picketed at several key places, bringing traffic to a grinding halt.
While all educational institutions remained closed, banks, government office and business establishments downed their shutters supporting the bandh. A large number of vehicles were seen stranded on either side of the National Highway 53 as the agitators staged a blockade on the stretch.
The BJP Yuva Morcha has given the bandh call demanding fulfillment of an eight-point charter of demands including sub-division status to Bhuban, construction of a permanent stadium, repair and widening of roads in the town and conversion of the stretch from Anantapur to Bata Tarini to cement-concrete.
“A sub-division status for the block has been a longstanding demand. Bhuban fulfills all criteria for inclusion in the list. However, the government has remained indifferent to this demand of ours,” a party member said. Locals also supported the bandh as the problems have long been in their wish list.
The agitators threatened to intensify the stir in coming days if their demands are not met at the earliest. Police forces were deployed to avoid untoward incident during the protest.
PNN