Dharnas, rail roko mark bandh in state

In Bhubaneswar, large number of BJD activists in groups sat on dharna at several places and shouted slogans against the Centre`s move to increase the price. Many irked protestors organised rallies and vented ire by holding placards and banners who also asked the common men to support the move.

In Sambalpur BJD activists staged a rail roko early in the morning while in Cuttack BJP workers did not allow any train to run through the station. The left parties have also extended their support to the general strike called in protest against the petrol price hike.

Though autorickshaw and private bus operators are participating in the strike, medical shops and emergency services are not covered in the bandh. With trade associations extending support to the bandh, markets in major cities like Cuttack, Berhampur, Balasore, Sambalpur were closed. The strike is peaceful and no untoward incident has been reported so far.