Dawn-to-dusk bandh disrupts life in Odisha’s Boudh

A 12-hour bandh called by Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS) over drought compensation issue today paralysed life in Odisha’s Boudh.

“Boudh district has been one of the worst affected in this year’s drought. Farmers have endured crop loss and have committed suicide under loan burden. This government neither accepts farmer suicide nor does it provide any compensation for the crop loss. How will the farmers manage to pay back their loans, procure seeds and fertiliser this year under such circumstances? We ask the administration to start distributing compensation to the affected farmers by the end of this month itself,” said an agitator.

Agitators were seen picketing across various places of the district in general and Boudh town in particular to make the bandh successful. Hundreds of agitators were seen demonstrating in key junctions of the town with placards in hand. Tyres were set alight blocking some of the roads.

While vehicular traffic came to a standstill because of the bandh, most shops and government offices remained closed. Passengers were seen stranded in bus stops.  Emergency services, however, had been spared.

Even though there have been no reports of violence so far, security measures have been beefed up to avoid any untoward incident.

Odisha Sun Times Bureau