Odisha traders lose Rs 15 billion business deals due to day long strike

Traders in Odisha lost business deals to the tune of Rs 15 billion due to the 12 hour bandh called by opposition parties - Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress demanding justice for a 14 year old tribal girl from Kunduli in state's Koraput district, who committed suicide three months after she accused 'men in uniform' of raping her.

"To avoid any untoward incident, the traders in the key markets have suo moto pulled down their shutters. The loss in business due to bandh called by the opposition parties is pegged at around Rs 15 billion", said Sudhakar Panda, Secretary, Odisha Baybasayai Mahasangha.

Most of the shops, business establishments and commercial centres have downed their shutter in all the major cities across the state.

Banks in Odisha also bore the brunt of the day-long strike as the attendance was recorded thin at the branches all over the state impacting the business, said a bank official.

The roads wore a deserted look as vehicular traffic has come to grinding halt in the state as buses, truck rickshaws remained off roads during the opposition-sponsored shutdown.

Similarly, train services were also disrupted as the protesters protested at different railway stations including Cuttack and Bhubaneswar.

The bandh has also derailed coal production and despatch at Talcher Coalfields of Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL). Coal production loss due to agitation is estimated at 120,000 tonnes. But, Paradip port operations remained normal with no impact on loading and unloading.

Odisha government has declared holiday for all schools and colleges on Wednesday, keeping in view the 'hartal' call, to ensure safety of students. Examinations, if any, will be shifted to a suitable date.

Opposition parties have demanded CBI probe into incident even as the state government has ordered judicial enquiry and probe by state crime branch into the tribal girl's charges of gang rape. The state police, after initial investigation in the case, had refuted the allegation.

The girl had earlier attempted suicide when she was treated in a government hospital after the October incident. She had alleged that she was offered a bribe to change her statement by senior police officers.

The Human Rights Protection Cell (HRPC) of the state police had ruled out rape of the victim.

" Both BJP and Congress are trying to score brownie points over the issue.The state government has taken all possible steps to help the victim", said Samir Das, spokesperson of the ruling Biju Janata Dal.