A massive security blanket thrown across Chhattisgarh’s cities as the Chhattisgarh Janata Congress (Jogi) has called for State-wide bandh on Thursday in protest of the death of Yogesh Sahu, the disabled youth who on July 21 had set himself afire in front of Chief Minister Raman Singh’s official residence and died in the wee hours of Wednesday.
However, the bandh call has fallen flat with thousands of party’s supporters court arrest across the State on Thursday.
This was the first major agitation by the former State Chief Minister Ajit Jogi's party held since the formation of Chhattisgarh Janata Congress (Jogi).
The bandh was called by the party to protest death of a physically challenged youth Yogesh Sahu who had succumbed to his burn injuries on Wednesday after attempting self immolation in front of Chief Minister Raman Singh’s official residence in Raipur on July 21.
The bandh call had also lost support of the traders as Chhattisgarh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) in a late night decision taken by its office bearers decided not to support the agitation.
In Raipur, the district administration and police ensured police contingents got deployed in strength across the city early in the morning.
A series of preventive arrests made in Raipur in the morning also helped maintain normal life in the city, officials informed.
All schools and colleges remained open in all cities and towns of the State as the concerned district administrations ensured students reached schools and colleges and got back home without any hassles.
Meanwhile, former Chief Minister Ajit Jogi who arrived on his wheelchair with his supporters in Civil lines locality in Raipur where a strong contingent of policemen stopped him from moving further.
later, the former Chief Minister also lied down on the footpath near the New Circuit House to register his protest.