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Orissa bandh brings life to standstill

Giridhar Gopal in Bhubaneswar

At least 2726 demonstrators were arrested by the police on Thursday from different places as trade unions and political parties called a 12-hour state-wide bandh, to protest the Centre's move to privatise National Aluminium Company.

The bandh call was given by all political parties, including the ruling Biju Janata Dal, director general of police N C Padhi said. The state unit of Bharatiya Janata Dal, however, said the party will oppose the bandh.

"We have deployed one hundred platoons of police forces in the districts, to prevent any untoward incidents," Padhi told rediff.com, adding, the district police administrations have also been put on alert.

Meanwhile, pro-bandh political parties have said that essential services including the functioning of hospitals, medicine stores, ambulance, police, water supply and electricity would not be affected.

But train services were hit as all long-distance trains were detained at different stations. Bus services were also withdrawn from the highways. Shops, business establishments, schools and colleges also remained closed.

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