Title - Bandh Day II: Transport, banking hit, hundreds arrested

BHUBANESWAR: Normal life was badly hit for the second consecutive day across Odisha on Thursday due to the 48-hour nationwide bandh call given by all trade unions. Rail and road traffic were disrupted throughout Odisha as buses, taxis, auto rickshaws and other modes of transportation remain closed in most towns of the state. Police arrested hundreds of protestors for picketing at railway stations, national highways and market places in the state.Activists clashed with police in front of the assembly when they latter tried to stop them from entering into the assembly by violating prohibitory orders under section 144 of the CrPC. Left parties alleged police atrocity against their leaders, who were waiting to meet the Assembly speaker.Railway sources said train services in Howrah-Chennai route had been affected owing to the bandh on the second day. About 16 express trains and eight local passenger trains got delayed by hours. "Rajdhani express, Visakha express, LTT express have been detained in Bhubaneswar and Neelachal Express, Dhauli Express and Tirupathy Express were detained at Puri," sources said.

Banks, insurance companies and other financial institutions remained closed across the state leading to loss of crores of rupees for the second day. With private banks also remaining closed and ATMs remaining non-functional, people faced severe inconvenience. Educational institutions like schools and colleges were also closed in several places.

"The bandh was a huge success in the state as people suo-motto came out to support our demands like inflation, privatization, poor implementation of labour laws and increase in foreign direct investment (FDI). The people of the country have been utterly dissatisfied with the government policies," said Souribandhu Kar, the general secretary of All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), Odisha State Committee.

However, flight services, milk vehicles and ambulance services were not disrupted in the state.