Odisha Bandh: Partial Disruption To Daily Life As Opposition Parties Protest Student Death

Daily life was partially disrupted across Odisha on Thursday as the Congress party, along with seven other opposition parties, enforced a 12-hour state-wide bandh. The protest was held in response to the recent death of a college student in Balasore, who reportedly took her own life after being denied justice in a sexual harassment case.

The bandh, which began at 6am, affected normal activity in several parts of the state, including major cities like Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. Roads were largely deserted, with limited vehicular movement, while train services were disrupted in areas such as Jatni, Puri, and Bhadrak due to demonstrations at railway stations.

Shops, markets, schools, and commercial establishments remained closed for the duration of the protest. Protesters blocked key roads, especially in the state capital, raised slogans against the BJP-led state government, and demanded justice for the deceased student.

Leaders from the Congress, CPI, CPI(M), CPIM (ML), Forward Bloc, RJD, SP, and NCP took part in the bandh, carrying their party flags and calling on the public to join and support the movement.

“There is no safety for women in Odisha since the BJP came to power. The state records around 15 rape cases daily, and the government has failed to control such crimes,” alleged Rama Chandra Kadam, leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP).

Essential services such as ambulance movement, medical care, pharmacies, and milk distribution were exempted from the bandh. The opposition parties had also appealed to transport operators, market bodies, educational institutions, offices, and banks to support the shutdown.

Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Bhakta Charan Das stated, “The bandh is being observed peacefully across the state, including in Bhubaneswar. We request the public to cooperate.” He added that picketing was being carried out on national highways and at railway stations.

As a safety measure, the Odisha Petroleum Dealers’ Association shut down all fuel stations statewide from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. “We regret the inconvenience caused,” stated association president Sasanka Shekhar Sahu.

The State Home Department had earlier instructed all district collectors and SPs to stay highly alert for the entire day. They were told to keep a close watch and be prepared to deal with possible road obstructions, protests, and any outbreaks of violence during the bandh.

Government workers were instructed to arrive at their workplaces early in the day. To ensure law and order, police in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, and other cities enforced heightened security measures. Advanced surveillance tools, such as high-resolution AI-powered cameras and drones, were stationed at strategic spots like marketplaces and government offices for real-time monitoring.

“The situation is being closely observed from a central command centre,” said Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Police Commissioner S Dev Datta Singh.

Security forces continue to monitor developments as the bandh progresses.