Balasore Student Death: Normal Life partially touched as a congress, other parties observe Bandh

Normal life was partially affected in Odisha on Thursday (July 17, 2025), because the opposition congress and seven other political parties enforce a Bandh of 12 hours in the entire state about the death of a student after he was denied justice in an alleged incident with sexual harassment.

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Roads in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and other parts of the state wore an abandoned look with a few vehicles sailing, and train services were affected in some places such as Jatni, Puri and Bhadrak stations as activists of the opposition parties started supporting the bandh for 6 hours.

Markets, schools and business branches remained closed.

The demonstrators organized blockages on various arterial roads in the capital of the state, raised slogans against the BJP government and demanded justice for the deceased college girl in Balasore.

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Leaders of the congress, CPI, CPI (M), CPIM (ML), Forward Bloc, RJD, SP and NCP took to the streets and held their party flags to force the Bandh.

“We have told people to support the BandH, because there is no safety for women in Odisha since the BJP formed the government in the state. No fewer than 15 women and girls are raped in the state every day, and the government has not succeeded in checking such incidents,” claimed Congress legislator (CLP) leader Rama Chandra Kadam.

However, essential services, such as the movement of ambulances, medical facilities, medicine shops and milk parons, are exempt from the competence of the BandH.

The opposition parties have already asked the authorities of markets, transport, educational institutions, offices and banks to support the closing.

“The Bandh is peacefully observed throughout the state, including the capital Bhubaneswar, and the public is asked to cooperate,” said Opcc President Bhakta Charan Das, adding that picketings are going on national motorways and railway stations.

Odisha’s Petroleum Dealers’ Association has already closed its fuel outskirts on Thursday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. as a precautionary measure.

“We regret the discomfort,” said Sasanka Shekhar Sahu, the president of the association.

The state government has tightened safety in Odisha with a view to the bandh.

The home department has commissioned all district collectors and SPs to stay on high reports in view of the road blockages, pickets, agitations, and she also warned against violence during the 12-hour Bandh.

The government has instructed its employees to come to their offices before time.

The police in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and other large cities have taken extensive security measures to guarantee public order, said an officer.

AI-in-switched cameras and high-resolution drones were used on important points, markets and government buildings to check the situation, said Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Police Commissioner Satta Singh.

“The situation is closely followed via a central assignment setup,” the officer added.