Locals began observing a 48-hour Paikmal Bandh on Thursday over a three-point charter of demands including NAC status to Paikmal in Bargarh district.
Many organisations lent their support to the shutdown call given by the Paikmal Jagaran Yuva Sangathan.
The two other demands were up-gradation of the Paikamal PHC to a hospital and declaration of Padampur as a new district.
All shops, Government and private offices remained closed due to the bandh.
On Wednesday, an action committee led by Minister Niranjan Pujari had met Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik demanding district status for Padampur. The CM reportedly assured of fulfilling their demand by December 31, 2023. Besides, he promised to include it in the BJD’s manifesto for the Padampur by-poll.