Kantabanji Zilla Sangarsha Samiti is today observing a 12-hour bandh in Kantabanji seeking district status for the region.
Due to the dawn-to-dusk bandh call, normal life has been thrown out of order as the impact of the bandh started to be felt from the morning.
The members of Kantabanji Zilla Sangarsha Samiti were seen picketing at strategic locations from early in the morning.
All the shops, markets and other establishments have remained closed. Vehicular movements on all roads including Kantabanji-Bolangir, Kantabanji-Khariar have come to a grinding halt. However, emergency services have been kept out of the bandh purview.
The locals of Turekela, Bongomunda, Muribahal, Belapada and Khaprakhol blocks and Kantabanji NAC are extending their support to the bandh call. Turekela, Bongomunda and Muribahal are the three blocks under Kantabanji Assembly constituency.
Notably, the samiti had observed bandhs earlier as well on July 18, March 25 and November 24, demanding a district tag for the area. Since the government is paying no heed to the demand, the samiti is observing a bandh once again, said a local.