Normal life was affected in Keonjhar town on Saturday due to a dawn-to-dusk bandh called by the Milita Krianusthan Committee (United Action Committee) to press its five-point charter of demands, including setting up of a medical college in the district.
The committee have been demanding establishment of a mega steel plant, an agriculture university, according unitary university status to Dharanidhar College and rail connectivity to Anandpur and Champua.
Various organisations, leaders cutting across party lines, intellectuals and traders’ associations joined the bandh call.
The protesters blocked the NH-215 and NH-49 passing through the district headquarters town forcing hundreds of heavy vehicles and buses, mini lorries to stay off the roads.
Petrol pumps and business establishments remained closed. However, educational institutes and emergency services, including hospitals and medicine stores and ambulance services, excluded from the bandh.
Elaborate security arrangements were made to prevent any untoward incident during the bandh.