A 12-hour peaceful bandh was observed in Keonjhar district on Friday demanding a Government medical college here.
After the Government declared to set up a medical college in Mayurbhanj district, citizens of Keonjhar under the banner of a coordination committee formed for the demand of a medical college staged protest by giving a bandh call in the district. All shops, Government offices and banks remained closed while buses from Keonjhar stopped plying during the daytime. The district court also remained closed.
Agitators led by Keonjhar District Bar Association president Rudra Narayana Mohanta, former MPs Madhav Sardar and Ananta Nayak, former MlA Mohan Majhi, Keonjhar District Progressive Citizens’ Forum president Dhirendra Rout and office-bearers of the Small Traders’ Association blocked the National Highways and staged a demonstration in front of the Collectorate here.
A memorandum on the demand was sent to the Government through the district Collector. The people of Keonjhar have been demanding a medical college since long and many agitations have been organised by different public forums earlier. The Kendujhar Suraksha Manch had carried on a month-long demonstration and dharna in front of the Collectorate on the issue earlier. But the demand has been ignored by the Government every time.