Bandh affects life in Gajapati

BERHAMPUR: The dawn-to-dusk bandh call given by a tribal outfit, demanding against those responsible for a girl's suicide, affected life in Gajapati district on Monday.
The Adivasi Mahasangh sought criminal action against former district collector B Bahinipati and project administrator of Integrated Tribal Development Agency K Rath, blaming the duo for the alleged suicide of Sunita Raita on August 13.
Raita, 21, of R Udayagiri allegedly took the extreme step because ITDA did not release funds for her nursing course in time.
On Monday, traffic was disrupted and shops downed shutters in the district. The bandh supporters blocked road at several places by laying logs. Educational and financial institutions were shut in Paralakhemundi, the district headquarters town. Government offices however remained open at several places.
"The bandh was a success as different organization expressed their solidarity, while people supported the demand," claimed the mahasangha's president Abraham Gamango.
The government transferred Bahinipati, while Rath was suspended. "We have demanded Rs 20 lakh compensation to parents of Sunita," he said. "Sunita had blamed both officers for her plight," he added.
Police said no untoward incident was reported during the bandh.