12-hour Mayurbhanj bandh cripples normal life

Baripada: Normal life was severely hit in various parts of Mayurbhanj district including the district headquarters due to a 12-hour bandh observed by various organisations and political parties in protest against delay in admission to Pandit Raghunath Murmu Medical College here.

The activists of district Congress, CPI, CPM and district bar association took to the streets from early morning to enforce the dawn-to-dusk bandh forcing shops and business establishments to close down.

The protesters blocked the NH-49 and 18 bringing vehicular traffic to a grinding halt.Educational institutions and government offices also downed their shutters as the protesters picketed to enforce the bandh.

Though the State Government had earlier announced that admission to Pandit Raghunath Murmu Medical College and Hospital will start from this academic session, the chances are bleak. Apparently,  Pandit Raghunath Murmu Medical is yet to receive the Letter of Permission (LoP) from the Centre.

Odisha Health secretary had written to Supreme Court  Mandate Oversight committee three days ago seeking LoP for the same and held MCI responsible for not taking steps for commencement of 100 undergraduate intakes from 2017-18 academic sessions.