Baripada bandh evokes partial response

A 12-hour dawn-to-dusk bandh in Baripada called by Mayurbhanj Adivasi Students Association today over exclusion of Santhali language in the newly-launched Rs 2,000 and Rs 500 notes evoked partial response.

Shops and commercial establishments downed their shutters, while government offices, judicial courts and banks functioned normally.

Whereas, buses went off the roads and educational institutions remained closed. Police have detained more than 20 Mayurbhanj Adivasi Students Association (MASA) activists along with its chief Sukulal Marndi while picketing.

Though Santhali language was included in the eighth schedule of Constitution, it did not find place like other scheduled languages in the new notes, Marndi said.