BJP bandh hits life in western Odisha

BHUBANESWAR: Normal life went out of gear in Sambalpur on Thursday with rail/road traffic hit and markets largely remaining closed following a bandh call by BJP.
The saffron party had given the dawn to dusk shutdown call in protest against arrest of former minister and senior party leader Jayanarayan Mishra.
Sambalpur-Puri Intercity Express departed 40 minutes late because the protesters laid seize to the track at Sambalpur station.Sambalpur-Rayagada express got delayed by around 25 minutes at the source.
Commuters had a harrowing time because BJP workers blocked the roads at Ainthapali, Church Chowk and Dhanupali. “I am waiting for a bus for the last four hours since I reached here from Bhubaneswar by a train, but there is none,” said Tulsi Sahu, who was waiting for a bus to Bargarh from Sambalpur.
All major markets, financial institutions, schools and colleges remained shut while government offices registered thin attendance. Only bikes and auto-rickshaws were seen moving in the city even as the BJP workers picketed at several places. the strike had its impact on Hirakud, Burla and Kuchinda townships as well, with markets remaining closed there.
BJP leader Suresh Pujari said the bandh was spontaneous. “All sections of people supported the bandh spontaneously because of their anguish with the arrest. The Supreme Court guidelines debar police from arresting any person charged with crimes having punishment of less than seven years. None of the charges against Mishra has the maximum seven-year term,” said Pujari.
To avert any untoward incident, 15 platoons of police force were deployed across the city.
Sambalpur SP Akhileswar Singh justified the arrest. “The SC guidelines have no blanket ban on arrest of crimes having less than seven years jail term. Police can arrest a person, if there are chances that he may not cooperate with the probe,” he said.
Mishra was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly brandishing a sword, violating prohibitory orders during the Hanuman Jayanti procession on Tuesday. He is in judicial custody after a local court rejected his bail plea.