Keonjhar, Odisha: Normal life was disrupted in Odisha’s Keonjhar today due to a dawn-to-dusk shutdown called by an outfit to for its six-point charter of demands including a medical college and a steel plant in the mineral-rich district.
Shops, business establishments, offices, banks, educational institutions and industrial units remained closed across the district during the 12-hour bandh called by Keonjhar United Action Committee (UAC).
Activists of UAC staged a dharna and rail roko at Keonjhar railway station, while the national highway here was also blocked, leaving a large number of trucks and other vehicles stranded for hours, police said.
The situation during the shutdown remained peaceful and no untoward incident was reported from any part of the district.
Security was beefed up in the district in view of the shutdown, a senior police officer said.
Committee leaders alleged the mineral-rich district is being neglected though the government earned huge revenue from the region.
Major demands of the committee include quick steps to expedite work for the establishment of Keonjhar medical college, setting up of a mega steel plant and an agriculture university, university status to Dharanidhara Autonomous College and rail connectivity from Anandpur to Champua.
Earlier, the activists had staged a dharna outside the District Collector’s office from September 23 till yesterday to press their demands.
(Sourced from agencies, Feature image courtesy:oneindia.com)
