12-hr bandh affects life in Banki

Cuttack: The 12-hour Banki bandh called by locals protesting against the students’ clash that took place at the Banki Autonomous College on August 22 affected normal life in the town today.

Shops and other business establishments remained closed while vehicles stayed off the roads in the locality. At some places, people staged road blockade by burning tyres and sitting on the roads. The people of nearby villages also participated in the protest demanding the arrest of the students involved in the group clash at the college. The agitators warned that they would intensify their stir in the coming days if their demand is not fulfilled.

Notably, more than seven students had sustained critical injuries in the group clash at the college and been admitted to a nursing home here. What started as a heated argument between two groups of students soon turned into a group clash. Police forces had been deployed in the college premises to maintain law and order.

College authorities declared sine die for an indefinite period asking the students to vacate the hostels.