Boudh: Normal life was paralysed at Harabhanga block Thursday due to a 12-hour bandh called by the CPI demanding a Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) court in the block.
The party activists led by its secretary Abakash Sahu picketed at various important places like Harabhanga, Puruna Cuttack, Madhapur, Charichhak, Chhatran and Lunibahal in the district to make the bandh sucessful.
The agitating members also squatted at Chari Chhak in the block headquarters disrupting traffic on National Highway 57, connecting Khurda-Bolangir.
The businessmen of Chari Chhak bazaar committee pulled down their shutters in support of the bandh. All government and non-government offices remained closed.
Last year, the state government had announced setting up of a JMFC court at Harabhanga. But no steps have been taken in this regard till now.