Odisha: Balasore sexual harassment case: Balasore Self-Immolation Case: On Thursday, eight opposition parties including Congress have called for Odisha Bandh. The bandh will continue from 6 am to 6 pm on Thursday. The effect of the bandh is visible across the state on Thursday morning. Opposition parties have called for a bandh after the death of a student of FM College, Balasore.
The student, upset over the lack of action in the sexual harassment case, tried to commit suicide on Saturday. After this, she was admitted to the hospital in critical condition.
The student had accused a department head of Fakir Mohan College in Balasore, Odisha of sexual harassment.
On Monday, the police arrested the college principal Dilip Kumar Ghosh. The accused department head Sameer Sahu has also been arrested in the case.
The student's family alleges that she was being sexually harassed for the past several months and she had also complained about it to the college administration, but when no action was taken in this matter, the student took such a step.
Schools, colleges, shops closed
Schools and colleges are closed in Odisha. Shops, markets, shopping malls and cinema halls are also closed. Public transport has also been affected.
Apart from this, 30 thousand petrol pumps are also closed in Odisha.
The bandh resulted in substantial traffic congestion on the Chennai-Kolkata Highway, with many vehicles stranded. Bus operations were affected throughout various regions of the state.
However, emergency services are continuing. The bandh has not affected ambulance service and health services in hospitals. Medical stores are also open.
Cong seeks judicial probe, resignation of minister
Meanwhile, State Congress Committee Chairman Bhakt Charan Das has released a video and appealed to the people to join this bandh peacefully.
Congress and other opposition parties, which called for the bandh, have demanded a judicial inquiry into the death of the student.
The opposition parties have also demanded the resignation of Higher Education Minister Suryavanshi Suraj, Balasore MP Pratap Sarangi and Balasore Sadar MLA Manas Kumar Dutt.
Other opposition parties including Congress have also demanded immediate action against Balasore District Magistrate Suryavanshi Mayur Vikash and Superintendent of Police Raj Prasad.
Opposition parties allege that the deteriorating law and order situation in the state has endangered the lives and property of the people and the rule of law has collapsed.
Security tightened
Police forces have been deployed in view of the bandh. Security has been increased in Lok Seva Bhavan (Secretariat), Vidhan Sabha and important government offices.
Also, the state government has instructed the district collectors to remain on alert. Collectors have been asked to ensure that the security of government offices and essential services are not affected.
Police Commissioner S Debdutt Singh has said that political parties have the right to protest. Action will be taken against anyone who acts against the law.
Prakash Kumar Pandey