Bandh over HC bench: Protesters bar Bolangir Collector from entering his office

Bolangir: Intensifying their agitation for the third consecutive day demanding establishment of a permanent bench of Orissa High Court here, lawyers today stopped the district collector from entering his office.

According to sources, district collector Arindam Dakua was scheduled to attend a video conference with Chief Secretary AP Padhi today but he had to return from the gate of his office as the agitators barred him from entering the Collectorate.

Protesting the casual attitude of the government in failing to address the demands for a permanent HC bench, some lawyers also resorted to a unique protest by tonsuring their heads.

Bald Protest! #WATCH a lawyer tonsuring his head as a mark of protest demanding establishment of a permanent bench of Orissa High Court in #Bolangir #Odisha #DemandForHCBench pic.twitter.com/R0LaFqus1k

— OTV (@otvnews) December 5, 2018

Not only lawyers, several social and cultural organisations of western Odisha too extended their support to the bandh.

It is pertinent to note that the lawyers had called for a week-long closure of all major government offices including the Collectorate, Tehsil and other institutions in the district from December 3.