Mayurbhanj: Normal life has been disrupted at various places in Mayurbhanj district today with Kudumi Sena activists observing a six-hour bandh from 6 am to 12 noon demanding Scheduled Tribe(ST) status for Kudumi community.
The protestors staged a road blockade on National Highway 18 and 49 in the district affecting vehicular movement in the area. Over five lakh people of Kudumi Mahanta community who reside in Mayurbhanj have alleged that the Centre excluded them from scheduled tribe list in 1956 and deprived them of their basic rights.
Earlier on March 11, Patidar leader Hardik Patel had reached Baripada to support the ongoing fight of the Kudumi Sena. He addressed thousands of people from the community, gathered at the Chhau Padia and motivated them to fight for the cause of their future generations.
On the other hand, Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes Development Minister Ramesh Majhi had earlier said that Odisha government will check if the community has been provided the ST status in any other State and accordingly take a decision.