Bolangir: A two-day Bolangir bandh called by the Joint Action Committee and the Congress demanding construction of a bypass near the highway outside the town in the wake of the accidental death of a college girl threw life out of gear Thursday.
Mili Nayak (17) of Rinbachan village on the outskirts of this town was mowed down by truck when she was on her way to college at 7 am Wednesday.
The response of the residents to the bandh call was overwhelming as normal life was completely disrupted and traffic came to a standstill in the town. Almost all shops, business establishments, private and government offices, educational institutions, courts, post offices, banks and insurance offices remaining closed in response to the bandh call.
The Joint Action Committee, spearheading an agitation for construction of a bypass, has given the bandh call for two days while the Congress has given the bandh call for a day.
Local Congress workers led by their leaders Samarendra Mishra and Sudam Sahu took out a rally through the town and picketed at various offices and courts. They also demanded adequate compensation for the family of deceased girl.
Members of the Joint Action Committee led by trade union leader Lalit Kumar Nayak, convener Gopaljee Panigrahi, Tripurari Panigrahi, president of Zilla Banika Sangha and district bar association secretary Aman Nag staged a demonstration outside the collectorate and later picketed at various offices.
The agitators alleged that mishaps have become a regular affair as there is no bypass to the town from the highway.
The district sessions judge and other judges failed to attend their courts as the Congress and lawyers picketed outside the courts.
The villagers of Rinbachan also joined the agitation and staged a blockade on National Highway 26 at Rinbachan Square. The villagers demanded Rs 25 lakh compensation for the bereaved family and construction of a bypass.
Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) activists went round various schools and colleges to enforce the bandh, while members of All India Democratic Students’ Organisation (AIDSO) staged a demonstration outside the collectorate by holding placards.
The bandh threw life out of gear with commuters having a harrowing time as vehicles remained off roads. Trade, business and commerce took a severe beating with the Daily Market remaining closed.
However, healthcare services were unaffected with emergency services being exempted from the bandh.
Members of truck and bus owners’ associations, Sramik Karmachari Sangha, Zilla Banika Sangha, taxi owners’ association, district bar association and various other outfits extended their support to the agitation.
