Sundergarh paralysed by bandh to protest stole insult to women

Rourkela: Normal life in Sundergarh district was today hit by a dawn-to-dusk bandh called by the Congress to protest against the forced removal of stoles from women at a government programme addressed by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on December 4.

Though Patnaik has asked the Director General of Police to inquire into the matter, Congress has been demanding a judicial probe into the incident in which a large number of women and girls were asked to remove their black colour stoles, offending them.

The police detained 101 Congress workers here as all government offices and banks remained closed for the day.

Schools, colleges and business establishments also remained closed.

Also read: Stole pulling case: Cong gives Sundargarh bandh call tomorrow

SDPO DIB PK Mohapatra said over 100 Congress workers were detained in the peaceful bandh.

At Sundergarh, the bandh was total with the Congress men closing the Rourkela-Sambalpur Highway at three places, Toll Gate, Ranibandh and College bypass.