The Athagarh Bandh called on Saturday against police inaction in arresting the accused involved in assaulting two journalists here recently and the deteriorating law and order situation in the area was a success.
Almost all shops were closed supporting the bandh called by the BJP, the Congress, the Yubak Sangha and other different local organisations.
In the morning, over 100 youths held picketing and requested the school and Government and private organisation authorities to shut down their institutions and got their total support. Bus services were stopped suo motto by the owners.
The picketers in the afternoon blocked the road in the town when over 50 of them, including journalists, were detained by police. later, they were released on PR bonds. The police assured them that the accused involved in assaulting journalists would be nabbed soon.
In a period of 26 years, the bandh was a big protest against local BJD MlA Ranendra Pratap Swain.
The local administration, which allegedly runs from the office of the MlA, was challenged by the people of Athagarh through the bandh.