Boudh: Normal life was disrupted here Tuesday as all government and private offices remained closed with vehicles staying off the roads during a dawn-to-dusk bandh call given by the district unit of a farmer’s outfit over non-release of drought relief assistance to the farmers.
Members of Boudh District Kishan Sangha burnt tyres and picketed at various strategic points like Manmunda, Baunsuni, Purunakatak, Charichhack and Biranarsinghpur to make the bandh successful while all business establishments, banks, post offices and courts remained closed during the period. The road blockade threw traffic out of gear as hundreds of vehicles were left stranded on both sides of Khurda-Bolangir National Highway-57.
The protesters alleged they were yet to receive any assistance from the state government for drought despite due to the negligence of government officials. Besides, two farmers committed suicide after suffering crop loss due to drought condition in the district over a year, they said, adding while there are some facilities for irrigation in Boudh block, Harbhanga and Kantamal blocks are the worst affected.
The farmers detained vehicles at Mahanadi Bridge Square and staged a demonstration outside the district collectorate. They also staged demonstrations outside the industries training centre and resorted to sloganeering in view of the visit of skill development commissioner Subrato Bagchi to the town.
Police in their bid to quell the protest, arrested 40 members of the outfit including its president Bhola Giri and leaders Suryanarayan Mohapatra , Narendra Kumar Sahu, Purnachandra Mahakud, Ranjan Kumar Das, Nabin Pradhan and Bishikesan Pradhan. PNN
