Dalit protest shuts down life in western Odisha

ROURKELA /ROURKELA:  Normal life was paralysed in western Odisha due to the 12-hour Bharat bandh called by dalit organisations against the alleged dilution of Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes Act. However, the bandh had a partial effect in Jharsuguda. In Sambalpur, the bandh call was supported by the District Highway Users’ Forum. The forum is demanding exemption of toll fees from vehicles registered in Sambalpur at Pradhanpali plaza on State Highway 10, which is part of the Biju Expressway. Its members joined the strike and picketed at strat e gic locations. Business and commercial establishments, educational and financial institutions and Government offices remained closed on the day while public transport services were suspended.

Train services were also disrupted while National Highways passing through the region wore a deserted look. Railway sources said protestors squatted on tracks which delayed departure of Sambalpur-Puri Intercity Express and Sambalpur-Rayagada Intercity Express from Sambalpur railway station by one hour. Similarly, the agitators detained Titlagarh-Howrah Ispat Express at Titlagarh for about 45 minutes while Puri-Durg Express was detained at Badmal for about an hour. However, there were no reports of any violence during the bandh.

General secretary of Sambalpur Adivasi Dalit Sena Shyam Munda said the bandh was called to draw the attention of Supreme Court towards the issue. Any dilution of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act would expose tribal and dalits to exploitation and humiliation, he said. Similarly, the shutdown affected normal life in and around Rourkela city besides evoking partial response in rest of the Sundargarh district. The bandh was observed by Sundargarh Zilla Adivasi Mulwasi Bachao Manch (SZAMBM) and Adivasi Mulniwasi Adhikar Suraksha Manch (AMASM) with the backing of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM).

Shops and business establishments were closed while vehicles remained off the roads on the day. The agitators picketed at various locations and closed the offices of Rourkela ADM and Panposh Sub- Collector at Uditnagar. They also staged protests at Rourkela railway station and blocked the ring road at Bisra Square and National Highway 143 at Panposh for a few hours. Protestors led by Birmitrapur MLA and JMM leader George Tirkey also staged agitation at Vedvyas road intersection. The bandh was total in Birmitrapur town. At Sundargarh district headquarters town, courts remained closed as the District Bar Association extended support to the bandh call. However, the shutdown evoked no response at Bonai sub-div i s i o n a l headquarters.