A 12-hour bandh called by the Balangir Chamber of Commerce and Industry and supported by the Congress party here protesting against deteriorating law and order situation in the district headquarters and demanding arrest of the accused involved in the attack on a businessman on December 19 passed off peacefully on Wednesday.
Normal life was paralysed as banks, post offices, shops and business establishments remained closed and buses were off the roads in the town. The locals alleged that the law and order mechanism in the district has been completely collapsed. There have been several attacks on traders and common people by criminals in the recent past.
Zilla Banika Sangh Secretary Tripurari Panigrahi said that we called the bandh as police have completely failed to provide security to the citizens. The police have neither called us for any discussions nor have they been able to apprehend culprits involved in various crimes in the district.When contacted, Balangir SP Deepak Kumar said that investigation is not a quick process. Culprits can only be nabbed on the basis of evidence. However, our investigation is on and we hope to solve the case soon.