Since 6 am till 2 pm, the whole Rayagada town was paralysed by members of the Sachetan Nagarik Manch (SNM) demanding restoration of law and order in the town which has been deteriorating fast. The SNM members closed the proposed Ranchi-Vijayawada Highway near the over-bridge.
Their prime demands included nabbing the culprits who had stolen the precious statues from the Radhakanta Temple at Brahmin Street and containing the increasing house thefts, bike lifting, theft from several shops and pick pocketing. These crimes have been occurring since last few months.
Recently, there was a theft of aluminium powder worth lakhs of rupees from Nalco wagons near the ladda railway station and the police have failed to arrest anybody as many high profile people from Rayagada had a nexus with the criminals. Similarly, a lot of valuable materials were stolen from the local Durga Temple. And the police have their usual answer, “We are inquiring into the incident”.
“Unfortunately no action is being taken in these cases in spite of repeated requests to the district administration. So, we are compelled to come to the street though the distinct Collector requested us to refrain from road blockade and assured to look into the matter within a fortnight. We understand the difficulties of the common people due to this bandh, but this has created a sense of registering our protest for a cause. We have the support of all the denizens of Rayagada,” said SNM convenor Prof Niranjan Buxipatro.
All petrol pumps, shops, schools and other educational institutions, Government offices and banks were closed. Regular passenger buses,
auto-rickshaws and rickshaws and other vehicles remained off roads.
The bandh was fully successful due to a spontaneous support by the local people.