Press Trust of India
Bolangir, Dec 24: Normal life was thrown out of gear in this western Orissa town Wednesday during a bandh called by Bolangir Chamber of Commerce in protest against the alleged deteriorating law and order situation.
Government and private offices, banks, insurance offices and business establishments remained closed during the dawn-to-dusk shut-down. Commuters faced difficulties as vehicular traffic was paralysed, police said. Schools and colleges remained closed due to the Christmas vacation. The bandh call was given by the Chamber which accused the police of failing to maintain law and order in
the town. Congress lent its support to the bandh call.
Two businessmen were attacked and looted in the town in the last one week. But, the police are yet to arrest the criminals, president of Bolangir Chamber of Commerce Tripurari Panigrahi said. Panigrahi alleged that the behaviour of the police towards common people was deplorable. He thanked the people of Bolangir for their support to the bandh.
Sub-divisional police officer of Bolangir Narayan Naik said the bandh was observed peac fully. “There were no reports of any untoward incident from anywhere,” he said.