Daringbadi/Brahmanigaon: Normal life was seriously hit in Brahmanigaon of Kandhamal district Tuesday as all business establishments remained closed during the 12-hour bandh called by a voluntary organisation in protest against the alleged murder of a youth three days back.
The decomposed body of Akash Singh of Badasahi in Alanjuri village under Brahmanigaon police limits was recovered from an abandoned well inside the PWD office premises in Brahmanigaon Saturday. His family had earlier termed the death of Singh as murder.
People however, had some sort of relief as vehicles continued plying in the area during the bandh.
The bandh called by Antarang Yuvak Sangh flayed the police inaction in arresting the persons behind the murder and demanded a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation.
Tension gripped the area as residents conducted a meeting at Hatapada holding the police and the excise department responsible for the rise in the illegal trade in liquor and contrabands in the area. They claimed that this has resulted in deterioration of law and order in the area.
They claimed the murder to be a fallout of the illegal trade in liquor and contraband and demanded the immediate arrest of Singh’s killers and an end to the illegal trade.
They alleged that when the law and order situation is deteriorating the post of IIC in Brahamanigaon police station is lying vacant since several months and the police have stopped patrolling in the area.
They asked the authorities to ensure the security of all people belonging to tribal, scheduled castes, backward and minorities in the area. They warned that the residents of 13 panchayats in Kandhamal and adjoining Gajapati districts will intensify their agitation if their demands are not met within a fortnight.
Later, they took out a rally to the police station where they submitted a memorandum to special DSP D. Tirupati Rao Pattnaik in the presence of Special IIC Pradip Kumar Choudhury.
Youth association president Jeet Sobhasundar, vice-president Harbal Majhi, secretary Prasant Naik, assistant secretary Sanand Naik and treasurer Salman Majhi led the rally. PNN