Bandh in Western Orissa over permanent High Court bench demand

Sambalpur, Aug 31 (UNI) Life was affected in Western Orissa today following dawn to dusk bandh.

The bandh was called demanding a permanent bench of Orissa High Court.

All the district and sub-divisional bar associations of Western Orissa organised the bandh in their respective headquarters and there was spontaneous support for the bandh from every corner.

The bandh supporters resorted to picketing in front of all the state and Central government offices and restricted the entry of the employees.

All the Banks, LIC offices, educational institutions, business establishments were closed.

Courts in all district headquarters also remained closed for the whole day.

Train services were also paralysed in Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Bargarh and Balangir as the demonstrators squatted on the track at various station in support of the bandh.

Most of the trains running on these routes were either cancelled or controlled at different stations.

Sources said vehicles remained off the road on National Highway 6, 42 and State Highway number 10.

The bandh was totally peaceful, Sambalpur Superintendent of Police S Devdatta Singh said.

Political parties cutting across party lines also supported the bandh call.

A Rourkela report said the bandh was total success in Sundargarh district as vehicular traffic came to a grinding halt, educational institutions, industrial units and commercial establishments were closed.

The members of Rourkela Bar Association boycotted the courts and went in a procession to the office of the Additional District Magistrate and submitted a memorandum addressed to the Orissa Governor in support of the demand.

UNI