Baripada: A 12-hour Mayurbhanj bandh called by Jharkhand Mukti Morcha has thrown normal life out of gear Saturday.
The demands of JMM include the setting up of a permanent bench of the Orissa High Court in Baripada, the resurrection of defunct Baripada Urban Bank and return of people’s deposited money.
It has also protested against the step-motherly treatment of railways.
While schools, colleges, shops and other business establishments remained closed vehicular movements have come to a grinding halt. The activists were seen picketing at various places including Baripada, Rairangpur and Udala and staging road blockades on NH-18 and NH-49.
The JMM workers alleged that the government has been approached for a permanent HC bench in south and western Odisha, but nothing has been done so far.
“The agitation would be intensified in coming days if the demands are not met at the earliest,” the agitators said.
The district lawyers’ association has extended its support to the bandh.