Normal life partially hit in Odisha by dalit stir

Normal life was partially affected in several parts of Odisha today as dalit outfits staged protests and strike as part of a countrywide agitation against the Supreme Court order on the SC/ST Act.

Vehicular movement was affected in several areas including Jharsuguda, Sundargarh, Malkangiri, Sambalpur and other tribal-dominated districts, police said. Buses also remained off the roads in Biramitrapur, Malkangiri, Kalahandi and Bolangir.

Shops and business establishments remained shut in several areas of tribal-dominated Malkangiri, Kalahandi, Sundargarh and Balangir districts in response to the 'Bharat bandh' call, they said.

Activists of 'Adivasi Dalit Sena' staged a rail roko at Khetrajpur station in Sambalpur which delayed some trains, they said.

The Adhikar Surakhya Manch, the Adivasi Mulabasi Bancaho Manch and the JMM have extended their support to the bandh call.

In the state capital, activists of different Dalit organisations put up road blockade near Vani Vihar, Jayadev Vihar and Acharya Vihar areas.

Several Dalit organisations have given a call for a 'Bharat Bandh' to voice their concerns over "dilution" of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.