While eight districts in the poverty stricken KBK region today witnessed a 12-hour bandh, tribal dominated Kandhamal district also observed a similar agitation but for a different cause.
Kandhamal bandh was observed demanding total prohibition in the district. The bandh call was given by Zilla Mada Mukti Andolan supported by Phulbani Action Group (PAG), an apex body of the working Voluntary Organisations in Kandhamal.
Besides demanding liquor free Kandhamal, the agitators also demanded no distillation of mahua liquor and its sale.
All the shops and commercial institutions including petrol pumps, post offices and some places commercial banks, education institutions were closed.
Daily life at Phulbani, G.Udayagiri, Raikia, Balliguda, Tikabali, Chakapad, Daringbadi, Kotogarh, Tumuduibandha was completely paralysed. Vehicular traffic was off the roads excluding the two wheelers.
No report of any untoward incident was received from any place, Pinak Mihra, SP Kandhamal said.
With a view to ban distillation of mahua liquor and its sale completely in Kandhamal, an organised agitational programme was launched for about three years by the Mada Mukti Andolan Abhijan.
Eight districts in the KBK region were agitating for proper implementation of Forest Rights Act 2013 and an end to irregularities in distribution of ration cards besides, four other demands.
