Lawyers’ bandh hits normalcy in Puri

Puri: Vehicular traffic between Puri and other parts of the State came to a grinding halt while business establishments, schools, colleges and government offices remained shut today due to 12-hour bandh observed by Puri Bar Association.

Up in arms over murder of advocate Laxmidhar Mohapatra, the fellow lawyers also halted several trains at the railway station as part of its dawn to dusk agitation. The Puri-Cuttack passenger train was stranded for several hours as the protesters didn't allow it to depart.

The bandh was also marked by road blockade at Atharanala, the entry point to the holy town. Hundreds of buses and tourists' vehicles stayed off the roads due to picketing by the lawyers. The sloganeering advocates also blocked the road at Medical Chowk by burning tyres.

The legal practitioners appealed to the residents of the pilgrim town to extend support to their move to make it a success.

Alleging deteriorating law and order, they demanded transfer of inactive and corrupt officials who have remained in the administration for years.

"Law and order has completely broken down in Puri. Before Laxmidhar's murder, another lawyer was also killed a few months ago. The town witnessed four such murder cases in a year. Being a major tourist destination, the place has turned into an unsafe zone for visitors. In view of this, we have appealed to the legal fraternity and general public to support our move. We are ready to suffer for the sake of peace and tranquillity in the holy town," senior advocate Meena Kumari said.

The bandh will be a success today as different social organisations, political parties and general mass have extended support, she added.

Meanwhile, expressing solidarity with the members of the Puri Bar Association, Orissa High Court lawyers resorted to a day-long cease work.

Earlier on Sunday, Police arrested two persons including main accused Jyoti Shankar Pradhan in the lawyer’s murder case. Police revealed that personal animosity has led to the crime.

On October 18, Pradhan had hit Mohapatra several times with a wooden plank at a petrol pump leaving him profusely bleeding. Later, he succumbed to the injuries at a private hospital.

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