Odisha Bandh: 200 Cong protesters arrested

Date: 10-09-2012

Congress-sponsored bandh in Odisha turned violent on Monday when the party workers torched an empty college bus in Bhubaneswar and on pelting stones at a few vehicles during a state-wide bandh which disrupted train and road traffic. Around 200 protesters were held by security men as normal life was affected across Odisha amid disruption of train and road traffic and closure of shops.

The bandh was called by Congress against alleged police crackdown on partymen during a rally on September 6. Public transport was badly affected in several towns as many buses and taxis went off the roads. Trains were stranded at different railway stations as Congress workers squatted on railway tracks. Schools, colleges and other educational institutions remained shut in most areas. Elaborate security arrangements were made by the police with heavy deployment of force throughout the state to prevent any untoward incident during the shut-down.

However, the situation is almost peaceful and no untoward incident has so far been reported from any part of the state. In the state capital, about 51 platoons of force (around 1700 personnel) have been deployed at different places while strict vigil is maintained near government buildings, vital installations and other sensitive locations.