Post News Network
Keonjhar/Joda, Feb 20: Normal life came to a halt in all parts of Keonjhar including Joda and Barbil Friday as the 24-hour district-wide bandh called by the Keonjhar
Zilla Kriyanusthan Committee (KZKC) led to complete shutdown of almost all basic facilities,
including transport and government services.
The KZKC had called the bandh to pressurise the government to fulfill their five demands—a government medical college, a mega steel plant, rail connectivity to Anandpur-Champua, setting up of an agriculture university and unitary status to Dharanidhar Autonomous College.
In Keonjhar town, agitators blocked the National Highway (NH)-215 and NH-49. Passenger and mineral transportation were completely paralysed as operations of buses, trucks, trains and other mode of transportation were affected.
Officials of the collectorate did not turned up for duty, while banks, LIC offices, post offices and all business establishments remained closed for the day.
Various organisations and political outfits of the district supported the bandh, which started at 9 am at various places. Joda Bikash Parishad, Joda Truck Owners’ Association, Joda Journalists’ Association, Champua sub-division Press Club and several other organisations participated in the bandh. Government offices, commercial establishments, filling stations, and markets remained closed in Joda, Jurudi, Bamebari, Kalimati, Bilaripada, Bhadrasahi and other places.
However, schools and colleges were not affected by the bandh in some areas. Bandh impact was total in Anandpur where the local press club, lawyers’ body, social activists and traders’ union joined the bandh.
The bandh observers took out a big motorcycle rally from Shailang Chhak and passed through Ghasipura, Shalapada, Bridge Chhak, Fakirapur and other places.
