life came to a standstill in the district headquarters town of Bhadrak on Friday in response to a 12-hour bandh call given by the Ganatantrik Nagarik Manch in support of the employees’ association of the local Barpada Engineering College.While schools, colleges and shops and other commercial establishments were closed, vehicles remained off the roads. Protestors blocked roads at several places in the town by setting old automobile tyres on fire. The BJP lent its support to the bandh call.
Around 400-odd employees of the Barapada Engineering College have been protesting against the hurling of crude bombs on them while they were on a peaceful dharna in the college premises on August 7 demanding their overdue salaries.The employees have not received their salaries for over five months.
They had agitated over the issue on several occasions, but the situation turned worse when five bombs exploded in the college premises while they were on dharna in the college premises after locking the gates of the college. Police had arrested 11 persons in connection with the bomb explosion incident.
The employees of the college alleged that present BJD MlA from Bhandaripokhari and former Minister Prafulla Samal and his son have embezzled over Rs100 crore from the college in the last few years. The employees demanded a through inquiry into the alleged misappropriation.“We demand taking over of the college by the Government. We find no reason why a private individual Prafulla Samal and his family illegally encroach onproperty inside the college when it stands on Government land and building. We have not received our salaries, EPF, etc., for five months. When we are demanding our salaries, they are hurling bombs on us,” said a striking employee of the college.
“The future of the students is dark. Families of around 300 employees of this college have been pushed into darkness as they have not received their salaries. Since the people of Bhadrak have extended their support to the employees of this college, we the BJP have also come out in their support,” said a local BJP leader.