A goup of people mostly women demonstrated before the collector's office during the bandh and proceeded towards the Town police station when police baton charged them and, in the process, four women sustained minor injuries, Kui Samaj Samanoy Samiti (KSSS) leader Lambodar Kanhar.
The police, however denied making lathi charge.
"Police chased the agitators away while they were marching towards the police station," said additional SP G C Maiilck adding that the bandh was earlier declared illegal.
The police took at least 52 persons including Kanhar into custody and later released them on personal release (PR) bond in the evening.
Boud-Kandhamal Milita Kriyanustan Committee, a joint action committee led by KSSS is demanding a district cadre of sikshya sayayaks (SS) instead of having the state cadre. The tribal body has been opposing appointment of SS from outside the districts in Kandhamal and Boud.
During the bandh, shops and commercial establishments were found shut in the district headquarters town of Phulbani where educational institutions, banks, petrol pumps were also closed, police sources said.
The bandh has been peaceful with no major untoward incident reported from anywhere so far.
