Keonjhar: Vehicular movement came to a grinding halt in the town today as the United Action Committee (Milita Krianusthan Committee) has called for a 12-hour Keonjhar bandh to press its five-point charter of demands, including setting up of a medical college in the district.
The committee's other demands include establishment of a mega steel plant, an agriculture university, according unitary university status to Dharanidhar College and rail connectivity to Anandpur and Champua.
Various organizations, leaders cutting across party lines, intellectuals, traders’ associations and journalists have joined the bandh call.
People from various walks of life have shut the doors of shops, government offices by picketing in the town in the morning. The protesters also blocked the NH-215 and NH- 49 passing through the district headquarters town forcing hundreds of heavy vehicles and buses, mini lorries to stay off the roads.
Vehicular traffic was also disrupted in the town. Petrol pumps and business establishments remained closed. However, educational institutes and emergency services, including hospitals and medicine stores, have been excluded from bandh.
The district administration has made elaborate security arrangements to prevnt any untoward incident during the day-long bandh.
Adequate police forces have been deployed at all strategic points in and around the town to keep a close vigil on the movement of the protesters.