By IANS
Bhubaneswar : Orissa observed Monday a total and successful 12-hour state-wide strike on the Congress party’s call supported by other opposition parties to protest the “total failure” of the Naveen Patnaik government. Stray incidents of violence were reported during the strike.
The strike was supported by the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), Communist Party of India (CPI), Orissa Gana Parishad (OGP), Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S), Rastriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM).
The police said at least six people were injured in a clash of two groups at the Unit-IV market in this state capital.
Besides, two traffic posts at the Kalpana Square here were torched while in Balasore, Khurda and Malkangiri strike supporters ransacked several government offices, damaged shops, torched vehicles and attacked those commuting despite the shutdown.
“Picketers burnt files in minor irrigation, irrigation, district rural development agency and block offices in Khurda besides torching a mini-truck, three jeeps and a car parked in front of these offices,” a senior police official told IANS.
Similarly, in Balasore activists vandalised doors and windows of the land acquisition office and damaged some restaurants, the official said.
The strike was peaceful in Cuttack where the state high court is located.
Activists in Jajpur district ransacked the offices of the circle inspector of schools, rural development, district project coordinator, fisheries and horticulture in the district headquarters.
In Mangalpur, under Sukinda block of Jajpur district, two persons were injured in a clash between the supporters of two political parties.
All schools and colleges across the state were closed, train and bus services disrupted and most roads deserted. Thousands of passengers were stranded at several places as most of the trains were either cancelled or detained and buses did not ply.
Tyres were burnt in all district headquarters and Congress leaders led by state unit president Jaydev Jena picketed railway tracks in Bhubaneswar. His supporters protested outside the Bermunda bus stand, disrupting train and bus services.
“We observed the bandh to protest the government’s failure in tackling the recent cholera deaths in the state, preventing manufacturing and marketing of spurious medicines and curbing female foeticide,” Jena told IANS.
“It was spontaneous and totally successful,” he said.
Jena demanded arrest of those activists of the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) who he said had attacked and injured the strike supporters.
However, Chief Minister Patnaik said: “Can stopping labourers from joining their work and preventing marginal shopkeepers from eking out their daily livelihood be termed as successful bandh?”
“The bandh was, however, peaceful across the State,” added Patnaik, who himself could not reach his office at the state secretariat till 1 p.m. due to the strike.
The state government Sunday had ordered closure of all educational institutions Monday. Thin attendance was reported in government offices and courts, while business establishments, banks and petrol pumps remained shut.
All examinations of Utkal University scheduled for Monday were postponed and authorities said new dates would be announced soon.
Activities in the defence establishments, comprising Integrated Test Range (ITR) and Proof and Experimental Establishment (PXE) at Chandipur in Balasore district, 200 km from here, were also paralysed.
“Most of the officers could not attend office as their vehicles were detained for hours at the Balasore Station Chhack by activists,” a defence official said.
In Talcher, supply of coal was disrupted, as all coal-carrying vehicles were stopped by crowds.
Officials maintained that tight security arrangements were in place.
“Adequate security personnel were deployed in all vulnerable pockets in the state while over 23 platoons of police forces and 127 police officers were pressed into service in Bhubaneswar,” Director General of Police Amarananda Patnaik told IANS.