Deogarh: A 12-hour bandh is being observed by the Congress in Odisha’s Deogarh district from 6 am to 6 pm over alleged irregularities at paddy mandis and anti-farmer policies of the state government.
Workers of the party blocked National Highway-49 at Nilabenisahi by placing sacks containing paddy on the road. Hundreds of vehicles remained stranded on both sides of the road due to the blockade.
Shops, business establishments and educational institutions remained closed in view of the bandh observance. However, the protesters excluded emergency services from the ambit of the bandh.
“Though our party had earlier drawn the attention of the district administration towards irregularities in paddy procurement at the mandis, no steps have been taken in this regard. Opposing it, we are observing a bandh in Deogarh today,” a protester said.
“Due to arbitrariness of the millers, paddy of farmers is not being procured within proper time, causing loss to the farmers. Furthermore, the millers are resorting to Katni Chhatni. Those farmers selling more than 25 quintals of paddy are being forced by the millers to bring paddy to mandis,” the protester added.
