Protesting the recent rape and murder of a nine-year-old girl in Kandhamal, the BJP Mahila Morcha observed a 12-hour bandh in the district on Friday.
The party activists demanded a judicial inquiry into the incident, disclosure of its report within a month and stringent punishment for the accused. Due to the bandh, schools and colleges, banks and shops and other business establishments remained closed. Women activists took out a mass rally in Phulbani town and staged picketing at various places. Vehicular movements at many places in the district were disrupted as the activists staged a road blockade on NH-53 near Gopalpur.
Police personnel were deployed at various places to avert any untoward incidents.
It may be pointed out that the minor girl was raped and strangulated to death at Hatapada Sahi under Kotagarh block in the district on September 22. Her body was later found in a farmland. On a complaint lodged by her family members, police have detained a youth of the locality and are investigating the incident.