Normal life was disrupted across several parts of Odisha on Thursday, as the Congress and seven other political parties enforced a 12-hour bandh in protest against the death of a college student who set herself ablaze following alleged sexual harassment and a denial of justice.
The shutdown, which began at 6am, brought Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Balasore and many other towns to a virtual standstill. Streets wore a deserted look, marketplaces remained shuttered, and train services were partially affected at stations including Jatni, Puri and Bhadrak as agitators blocked roads and railway tracks.
The bandh, called jointly by the Congress, CPI, CPI(M), CPIM(ML), RJD, Forward Bloc, SP and NCP, saw leaders and cadres taking to the streets waving party flags and chanting slogans demanding justice for the deceased student. The girl, a student of FM College in Balasore, had set herself on fire earlier this month, alleging harassment and inaction by authorities.
“We have been telling people to support the bandh as there is no safety for women in Odisha since the BJP formed the government in the state. As many as 15 women and girls are raped every day in the state, and the government has completely failed to check such incidents,” said Rama Chandra Kadam, leader of the Congress Legislature Party.
While the shutdown evoked a mixed response in rural areas, urban centres saw high levels of compliance. Petrol pumps remained closed throughout the day following a call by the Odisha Petroleum Dealers’ Association, which cited safety concerns. “We are sorry for the inconvenience,” said association president Sasanka Shekhar Sahu.
Also read: Tear gas fired, chaos in Bhubaneswar over student’s suicide
Educational institutions, banks and business establishments either remained closed or saw thin attendance. Essential services such as hospitals, ambulances, medicine shops and milk parlours were exempted from the bandh. However, picketing on arterial roads created bottlenecks in key urban areas, particularly near the state capital.
OPCC president Bhakta Charan Das said the bandh was being “observed peacefully” across the state and urged the public to cooperate. “Picketings are underway on national highways and railway stations,” he said.
The state home department had issued instructions to all district magistrates and police superintendents to remain on high alert and prevent any untoward incident. Special security arrangements were in place in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and other major towns.
The Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Police Commissionerate deployed drones and AI-powered surveillance cameras across sensitive zones. “The situation is being closely monitored through a central command setup,” said Commissioner S Dev Datta Singh.
Government employees had been directed to reach offices earlier than usual to avoid disruptions. Traffic police and rapid action units were deployed along potential flashpoints to ensure law and order.
The 12-hour shutdown comes just months before elections are due in Odisha, adding a political edge to the public outrage sparked by the student’s suicide. The incident has triggered state-wide protests over women’s safety, government accountability, and political apathy.
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