Bandh to protest fake medicine racket and foeticide in Orissa

Bhubaneswar, Aug 6 (UNI) The Opposition Congress today observed bandh in Bhawanipatna and Nayagarh demanding resignation of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and a CBI inquiry into the fake medicine racket and female foeticide incidents in Orissa.

Green Kalahandi, an NGO by former Union Minister Bhakta Charan Das also called for a separate Kalahandi Bandh to protest the handing over of Niyamgiri hill for mining in favour of Vedant Group and corruption in mining.

Mr Das and his supporters too demanded the resignation of the Chief Minister holding him responsible for the proliferation of fake medicines in the state and large scale female foeticide.

Hundreds of Congress leaders and workers were arrested at various places in Kalahandi and Nayagarh for holding demonstration in support of their demands.

Pradesh Congress Chief Jayadev Jena, former Union Minister Srikant Jena, Green Kalahandi Chief Bhakta Das, CPM State secretary Janardan Pati, CPI State secretariat member Ashis Kanungo and former Congress ministers were arrested in Bhawanipatna.

Party sources said the leader and workers of the CPI, CPM and Orissa Gana Parishad(OGP) also extended their full support to the Bandh call.

Meanwhile, in Nayagarh, Additional Sessions Judge B N Das today refused to grant bail to nine people, including three government doctors arrested by the Crime Branch in connection with the female foeticide case.

The Judge called for case dairies from the Crime branch and posted the next date of hearing to August 14 next.

UNI