By IANS,
Bhubaneswar : Rail and road traffic were disrupted in several parts of Orissa as Left backed trade unions observed a shutdown Wednesday against the central government.
“The bandh (shutdown) has affected banks, insurance, central government offices and the railway traffic,” state inspector general of police Pradeep Kapoor told IANS.
Buses are not plying in state capital Bhubaneswar and in Cuttack, he said on the basis of the preliminary information the government has received.
Petrol pumps in several parts of the state were closed.
Hundreds of protesters staged demonstrations in front of central government offices in Bhubaneswar.
The agitators shouted slogans against the central government and burnt tyres and stopped vehicles at several places.
“The impact was felt in the places where Left affiliated trade unions are active,” Kapoor said.
“Several passenger trains have been stopped at Bhadrak, Balasore, Puri, Cuttack and Bhubaneswar,” chief public relation officer of the east coast railway J.P. Mishra said.
Protesters also stopped goods trains at Talcher station, he added.