Balangir, Dec 5: Normal life was affected in Odisha’s Balangir district on Tuesday due to a 12-hour bandh in Kantabanji demanding a separate district status for the town.

As per reports, Kantabanji Zilla Sangharsh Committee called a dawn to dusk bandh in the western Odisha town, demanding a separate district status to Kantabanji.

Holding placards and banners, the agitators staged demonstrations at different places in the town. They also blocked all entry points of the town. The agitators also shouted the slogan ‘No district, No vote.’

Speaking to media persons, president of Kantabanji Zilla Sangharsh Committee, Seshadev Putel said, “ We have called the 12-hour Kantabanji bandh to press our demand and all the political parties are extending their support to the bandh. The people of this region will be benefited with the formation of a separate district at Kantabanji.”

“I urge the State government to announce Kantabanji as a separate district at the earliest,” he added.

While hundreds of vehicles were halted on both sides of the state highway passing through the town, services of buses, taxis and auto-rickshaws were also affected in the area.

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The commuters faced difficulties to reach their destinations. However, emergency services continued to remain unaffected.
The government and private offices, educational institutions, banks and financial institutions, shops and markets remained closed in Kantabanji from 6 AM.

Leading political parties, several trade unions and other social organisations supported the 12-hour bandh in the town.