Mayurbhanj bandh to protest Soren's greater Jharkhand demand

Baripada, Aug 18 (UNI) A dawn-to-dusk 'Mayurbhanj Bandh' today paralysed life in the district, predominantly inhabited by the tribals, in protest against JMM supremo Shibu Soren's demand for amalgamation of three districts with Jharkhand.

Mr Soren has proposed for inclusion of Orissa's three mineral rich districts namely, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar and Sundargarh with the Jharkhand for paving the path for ''Greater Jharkhand''.

The 'bandh' called by 'Bhanja Sena', a Mayurbhanj-based socio-cultural outfit, as a mark of protest against Mr Soren's demand evoked a spontaneous response across the district, including the remote rural areas, bringing life to a total halt.

The Bhanja Sena activists from Karanjia took a vow during the bandh before the Goddess Khijjingeswari at Khiching stating that they would not allow even an inch of Orissa's territory to be snatched away for fulfilling Mr Shibu Soren's ''absurd'' demand of a Greater Jharkhand.

Movement of vehicular traffic on the two National Highways- Chennai - Kolkata NH No 5 and Kolkata-Mumbai National Highway No 6 passing through the district was badly affected following the bandh call.

Both the state and central government offices in the district, revenue and judicial courts, banks, insurance offices, industrial establishments,schools and colleges and post offices also remained closed.

The bus operators did not ply their buses both on local and inter-state routes in support of the bandh call.

Bhanja Sena Chief Kalinga Keshari Jena has complimented the people of Mayurbhanj for their support and co-operation in making 12-hour bandh - a total success.

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