A dawn to dusk 'bandh' called by the Burla town Biju Janata Dal paralysed normal life in the small town here today.
The ruling BJD had called for the bandh demanding expulsion of the Chairperson of the Burla Notified Area Council (NAC), Chandrabati Naik as the caste certificate submitted by her claiming herself as Scheduled Caste was found fake.
Government offices, business establishments, financial institutions, educational institutions, remained closed due to the bandh. The vehicular movement was also disrupted because of the agitation.
President of the Burla town BJD, Sanjaya Gauda, however, said, "the bandh was spontaneous. Several section of people extended their support to our agitation."
"We demand expulsion of the Burla Chairperson, Chandrabati Naik from the post. The state level scrutiny committee has already cancelled the caste certificate, which identified her as Scheduled Caste," he said.
Vice chairperson of Burla Notified Area Council, Debendra Pradhan said, "the state level scrutiny committee have already cancelled the caste certificate, which identified her as SC after finding it fake. The district administration also recommended to terminate her from the post. We want the government to take immediate action and expel her from the post."
Earlier on November 27 last year, Burla police registered a case under section 420 and 120 B of IPC against Chandrabati Naik after the State Level Scrutiny Committee cancelled the caste certificate.
However, Naik managed to get anticipatory bail from the High Court recently and still holding the post of Chairperson.
Naik was elected as an Independent candidate from Ward No 3 of the Burla NAC in April 2010, which was reserved for the Schedule Caste candidate, and subsequently elected as the chairperson of Burla Notified Area Council with the help of BJD.
Chandrabati Naik said, "by calling for the bandh, they are harassing the general people. I am still continuing as the chairperson of the Burla NAC. The government will take decision whether I will continue or not.
