A 12-hour Rourkela Bandh called by a civil society forum Sachetan Nagarika Manch (SNM) on Saturday demanding IIM at Rourkela.
As the bandh call was supported by various political parties, trade unions, student organisations, the Rourkela Bar Association and other social organisations for a wide impact, schools, petrol pumps, banks and insurance offices, besides business establishments had downed their shutters across the city.
Similarly, long route buses stayed off the road. The bandh supporters were seen picketing at Bisra Chowk, Udit Nagar, Panposh Chowk and Rourkela railway station. Many trains were stranded for more than an hour due to a rail-roko by the bandh supporters. The Government offices and courts also shut down after the picketing by the bandh supporters. In many places, the leaders of Congress and BJP were seen participating in picketing.
Sources said the production in the Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) was not affected. Even many other private industries had made arrangement to keep their employees inside their premises from Friday night or made conveyance arrangement for the travel of the workers from home to the work place.
Adequate security arrangements were made in the whole town. Police personnel were deployed at various points to maintain law and order. No arrest was made as the bandh was peaceful, said Additional SP Santosh Mohanty.
Forum general secretary PP Ray, expressing his satisfaction of the successful bandh, said it was only possible due to the overwhelming support of the Rourkela denizens. “If the BJD Government ignores Rourkela even after the bandh, the agitation will be intensified in coming days,” he warned. Ray further said the next course of action would be decided soon after a meeting of the forum’s executive body.