Normal life was disrupted across several parts of Nabarangpur district on Tuesday as a 12-hour bandh called by the Umerkote Sangram Manch brought daily activities to a halt in Umerkote and surrounding areas.
The shutdown had a widespread impact, with vehicular movement completely suspended and commercial establishments remaining closed throughout the day. The bandh affected Umerkote town along with neighbouring blocks such as Raighar, Jharigaon and Chandahandi, where roads wore a deserted look.
Public and private transport services remained off the roads, causing inconvenience to commuters, while shops, business establishments and local markets stayed closed in the affected areas. However, emergency services were exempted from the shutdown. No untoward incidents were reported till the filing of this report.
The Umerkote Sangram Manch has placed three major demands before the government. Its primary demand is the establishment of a medical college in Umerkote to improve healthcare facilities in the region. The forum has also sought proper land settlement arrangements to resolve long-pending land-related issues faced by local residents.
In addition, the Sangram Manch has demanded the establishment of a maize processing unit aimed at supporting local farmers by enabling better processing and value addition of maize produce.
Babula Pattnaik, a member of the Sangram Manch, said the bandh was organised to draw the government’s attention to these pressing demands, which he described as essential for the overall development of the region. The organisers urged the authorities to take prompt steps to address the issues in the interest of local development.
