Date:14/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/14/stories/2008101454510800.htm

National

Bandh hits normal life in south Orissa

Staff Reporter

Call given by some Left parties and tribal organisations

BERHAMPUR: Normal life was disrupted to some extent in five districts of south Orissa on Monday due to a dawn to dusk bandh call given by some Left parties and tribal organisations against the communal violence by the Sangh Parivar in Kandhamal district.

This bandh call given in Kandhamal, Gajapati, Rayagada, Ganjam and Koraput districts of south Orissa by CPI (ML) (New Democracy), CPI (ML) (Liberation), SUCI and CPI (ML) (Samajwadi Jan Parishad). Tribal organisation Lok Sangram Manch (LSM) supported this bandh call. Activists of these organisations also held token protest demonstrations in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. No untoward incidents were reported during this bandh call.

Movement of passenger vehicles was disrupted in major portions of all these districts. Activists disrupted train movement between Khurda road and Berhampur for over two hours in the morning through blockades near Rambha and Khallikote in Ganjam district. Roads were blocked near Aska and Bhanjanagar. In Ganjam district effect of the bandh was more evident in Sorada, Dharakote, Sanakhemundi and Shergarh blocks. The protesters took out a rally in Berhampur shouting slogans for communal amity and demanding action against the communal forces.

Public meet

In Kandhamal district vehicular traffic was affected throughout the district but effect of the bandh was more apparent in Daringbadi, Raikia, Brahmanigaon areas. At Daringbadi a tussle occurred between the CRPF personnel and the supporters of the bandh. The CRPF personnel resorted to lathi charge. In the afternoon a public meeting for communal harmony was organised at Daringbadi which was attended by the State secretary of the LSM, Kusanath Pradhan and leader of CPI (ML) (New Democracy), Akhil Pradhan.

In Koraput district bandh affected day to day life in Narayanpatna, Bandhugaon and Laxmipur blocks, The road transportation between Koraput and Parvatipuram in Andhra Pradesh was disrupted.

Road blockades and other impacts of the bandh was observed in Gudari, Gunupur, Padmapur, Ramnaguda, Bisamkatak, Muniguda areas of Rayagada district. But it had little impact at Rayagada town.

The protesters took out a peace rally against communal forces at Gunupur town.

In Gajapati district trees were cut at some places to block roads. Vehicles remained off road through out the district.